Sports Minister regrets Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for world cup 

• Condemns destruction of stadium facilities

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Akin Dare, conveyed regrets over the disappointing exit of the Super Eagles from Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Minister who had boasted that the Super Eagles were going to qualify ahead of the Black Stars of Ghana acknowledged the fans vocal supports in a 60,000-capacity Moshood Abiola National Stadium after the heartbreaking 1-1 draw.

Following, Mr. Dare assured that better days are ahead were football will be taken back to its roots; a place of its origin, The Trumpet gathered.

In his statement after the Super Eagles game on Tuesday made available to The Trumpet, the Minister said:

“We drew 0-0 in Kumasi and drew 1-1 here and that meant the away goal rule gave Ghana the edge. It is most unfortunate and regrettable that we are not going to Qatar, but that is sports. Nothing is 100% certain.

“On our part, the Federal Government gave every support necessary. We got the stadium ready in all its glory. We mobilised Nigerians and other football lovers to fill up the stadium. The NFF called up a solid cast of players. 60,000 voices sang the National anthem in what must have been one of the most uplifting moments one could imagine.

“The fans gave their vocal support till the very end. The president of the nation, though saddened by the tragic events in Kaduna was determined to lend his support, and not let terrorists determine and define the activities and schedules of the Nation and its leaders with their opportunistic and wicked acts. – which would be kowtowing to their agenda. On the day, it wasn’t enough.

“We will move quickly because we still have a lot of work to do to give Nigerians the calibre of senior team it deserves. We will review all that we did leading to the game, take tough steps to redirect the development of our football and restore the DNA of Nigerian football. Whatever is necessary will be done quietly, firmly and determinedly.

“I believe better days are ahead for Nigerian football but only if we make the necessary changes. We need to rebrand our football and return to the grassroot and youth football culture of the past. Nigeria is a football loving Nation and it deserves the best.

“I understand the unhappiness that followed our non-qualification for Qatar 2022.

“We  take responsibility. We will rebuild and thank the Super Eagles players for their service. Our apologies as a Football administration ecosystem go out to fans who struggled to make it to their appropriate seating positions,” he added.

The Minister, however, denounced the acts perpetrated by Nigerians in destroying a 60,000-capacity national asset that took time, funds and resources of the public and private sectors to refurbished to its desirable standard.

The statement continued: “Vandalizing and destroying sporting infrastructure at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is not acceptable regardless of unhappiness. The Nigerians that did this must be condemned.

“When I watched the clips and after I inspected the damage, knowing the work and the amount of efforts and resources that have gone into resuscitating the edifice, both from the private and public sectors, it was just very saddening. In a single day, I was weighed down by our missing out of the World Cup and then the vandalization.

“I saw a number of young persons destroying valuable items in the stadium. Obviously, as Nigerians they have a right to be disappointed, but they do not have the right to destroy public property in which monies from taxpayers and funds from patriotic private individuals were invested.

“No excuse can be advanced for destroying infrastructure put in place to fix infrastructure gaps. It is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. The mentality of destroying things built to serve law abiding citizens is condemnable and will be sanctioned.

“Already, work is ongoing. Two committees are working concurrently. An investigative committee is looking at the security breaches and the vandalization that occurred while the other committee is a combination of people from the Sports Ministry, the NFF, Para Military and Security people. They worked on the Nigeria -Ghana match preparations.

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“These committees are expected to give a comprehensive report by Tuesday next week.

“On the whole, the efforts we have been putting into birthing a long term sustainable framework for sports development over the past three years will soon come together.

“We are close to having a football masterplan and will soon deliver Sports as business policy which we believe is the only sustainable pathway to a viable sports sector. The events of Tuesday highlight and validate many thrusts of the policy intentions especially grassroots spotting and development of talents.

“I appeal for the patience of Nigerians and thank the law abiding citizens who have joined their voices to condemn the acts of vandalization and who trooped out to support the Super Eagles,” he added.