The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, on their impressive victory over Ghana, securing their defence of the WAFU B U-20 Championship title.
The match, held on Wednesday night under the floodlights in Lome, saw Nigeria defeat Ghana 2-1, with a first-half brace from Kparobo Arierhi settling the regional derby.
Dikko hailed the team’s success, describing the victory as a “welcome gift” for Nigerian sports and an encouraging step forward in the team’s journey.
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He emphasized the importance of the win, noting that it sets a positive tone as the Flying Eagles prepare for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON), with hopes of securing a place in the U-20 World Cup.
He added that it is imperative for the team to start preparations early enough for the U-20 AFCON, so as to be in a good state when the continental contest kicks off. The top teams from the AFCON will go on to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in September 2025.
With this victory, coach Aliyu Zubairu’s Flying Eagles have confirmed their place in the U-20 AFCON that will take place in South Africa next year.
5 Comments
Pay those little boys and their coaches their allowances and other emoluments…..!!!
I honestly think this remark of yours should be directed at the NFF. Shehu Dikko has barely resumed office.
NFF should ,with all urgency, pay what is due this youngsters. They have done the nation proud, especially beating our loud mouth neighbour-Ghana.
After the first match, I didn’t give the team any chance of even qualifying for AFCON U20 Nations Cup. But they improved in subsequent matches. If the coach could achieve this feat with a very short time to prepare, imagine, when giving adequate time, what he will do.
Oh yes. It ordinarily should not be the business of Dikko. However, as an immediate past executive board member of the NFF, he can not claim ignorance of the embarrassing habit of the NFF not paying the entitlements of our national teams, from the SE to the flamingos or of the fact that even these ones have not been paid a dime since they were called to camp.
It is imperative for him, that his first task as the new NSC DG should be to instruct the immediate use of the several billions of naira released by the FG earlier in the year, but being hoarded by the ministry/NFF, to pay off what the funds were budgeted for…..offsetting owed entitlements of national team coaches and players.
Thanks so much for congratulating the team, but congratulations alone is not enough.
Handshakes too will not suffice.
Kudi, ego, owo, must accompany congratulations.
Kindly see to it that the lads and their coaches are paid their allowances and other emoluments in full.
Na by speak big big English? Na so una de doam wen una jos de enter, small time now na how to give contract to replace furniture for your office, then change staff , change suv etc . If you truely mean what you are saying about going back to sports development , return sports back to our school system .