The presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has assured that the Nigeria Super Eagles will be in the 2026 world cup, and will achieve what Morocco achieved.
Newsonline reports that Atiku lamented that Nigerians have been disappointed by not seeing their Super Eagles flying the country’s flag high in Qatar 2022 FIFA world cup.
Atiku promised that if elected, he will sponsor the game of football like the Morocco government did to ensure that Nigerians tap into the opportunities soccer provides.
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The former vice president of Nigeria said he would achieve this by carrying out the football development policies that Morocco has been implementing in their country. This he said was responsible for the Moroccan team’s semi-final success at Qatar 2022.
Atiku said in Morroco, all public places have football fields where citizens across all age levels go to play football. He said the public football pitches across all villages and cities in Morocco will be replicated in Nigeria to ensure the development of Nigeria’s sports sector.
He said if elected the country’s Super Eagles will get all the support needed to make Nigeria proud in 2026 world cup.
Atiku on Channels TV’s presidential town hall meeting on Sunday said, “What is found in Morocco is that they have provided football playing fields in almost every neighborhood. In every neighborhood you go to in Morocco, small villages, towns, and cities, you find that they have provided public football playing fields.
“You will see as young as primary school children playing football early in the morning before they go to school and later in the evening when they return from school, I think we have to encourage that.”
The vice-presidential candidate of PDP, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who also spoke on their plans for sports development at the town hall meeting added that their government if elected, will ensure sports competition from the grassroots level to grow talents.
