Sports ministry hails NFF’s 2018 FIFA World Cup plan

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, on Wednesday poured encomiums on the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for its welltailored, comprehensive and articulate 2018 FIFA World Cup plan for the Super Eagles.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Olusade Adesola, made the commendation in Lagos during the unveiling of the 2018 FIFA World Cup program for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Adesola, who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung at the unveiling of the plan at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, noted: “The present administration preaches transparency, and this is exactly what the NFF has done here. They have brought everyone on board and laid out their plan in good time, even asking people to contribute.

“This is commendable. I see a lot of excitement among the leaders of the football community here and I am equally enamoured by the clear-cut nature of the World Cup plan,” he said while also assuring that the Federal Government is working to ensure that the pitch of National Stadium, Abuja is revamped in good time for the Eagles’ pre-World Cup friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, 28th May.

Leading members of the Nigerian Football family as well as stakeholders also hailed the NFF’s well-articulated World Cup program, which included venues and dates for six pre-World Cup friendly matches, kit launch, camping programmes and venues, the team base camp, sponsors’ event and how the team will travel during the World Cup finals proper.

Meanwhile, organizers have now confirmed that the international friendly between the Super Eagles and Poland on 23rd March will take place in the city of Wroclaw, and not Warsaw, the capital.

On the five-year partnership agreement between the NFF and Coca-Cola, which conferred on the beverage giant the title of ‘Official Soft Drink and Co-Sponsor of the Nigeria National Teams,’ Adesola said the Federal Government’s unwavering support and the NFF’s diligence, which ensured 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, has enabled the environment for corporate organizations to journey back to sports sponsorship in droves.