The vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Datti Baba-Ahmed, says he’s confident the Super Eagles won’t miss the World Cup if Peter Obi is elected as President.
Recall that the three-time Africa Cup of Nations failed to make it to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing the spot to Ghana.
Baba-Ahmed spoke during an appearance alongside Peter Obi, on The Peoples Townhall, a live event organised by Channels Television and its partners on Sunday.
He said they would ensure that Nigeria wins the Nations Cup as well as participate in every World Cup.
“I will plead with Mr President to see that whoever is in charge of sports will see that we move mountains to bring the African Cup to Nigeria. There is no way the World Cup will be played without Nigeria. Nigeria has passed that; it will never happen again by the grace of God,” Baba-Ahmed vowed.
The Labour Party vice presidential candidate said his and Obi’s administration would see to it that people who represent Nigeria in sports are never owed salaries and allowances.
“This is entertainment – sport is entertainment – and then we are going to proliferate with infrastructure and [the] reward [will be] coming to the participants.
“Never will salaries or allowances of Nigerian players be delayed by one hour. We will be there to ensure they are compensated, link them with industries and companies and raise their profiles internationally,” Baba-Ahmed added.
10 Comments
First time Football is remembered during election……Nice one there my incoming vice president…..For remembering football alone my vote is yours.
That’s our incoming vice president talking. Boss talk it.
For real? Politics and football in bed?
Seems to remind me of Sunday Dare’s myopic focus on football to the detriment of other sports, and even football, come to think of it.
Na Obi and Datti go play the ball?
If they don’t put in place structures for sports development nothing will happen. Besides it takes time to have a formidable team
CSN should kindly desist from using this platform as a Campaign machinery for all these thieves aspiring for Presidency.
They shouldn’t feed us with such nonsense as football is a professional sport and doesn’t mix with politics at all. Politicians should keep their lies for the Gullible ones please
@Dr Banks, We are not at that stage where we can separate sports from politics. If I may ask, who is paying the salary of the current coach? It is the sports ministry and they were appointed by politicians. It is pertinent that we get it right in terms of the leadership of the country so it can cascade down to every sector (Sports Inclusive). Having said that, it seems absurd that CSN would use their platform to push political agenda/rhetoric.
Nice point there…..if we get it at the leadership level then it will trickle down to the grassroots……And please it’s not CSN’s fault that missing the world cup came up in the mouth of the vice presidential candidate….. Maybe he is a football fan……he might even be a forumite who comments here from time to time….. Football is for everyone even if you are a politician……And wherever football is mentioned CSN should bring it to the fans’ notice which is exactly what what they did……you guys should stop attacking CSN on this one…….we are about to have a football fan as vice president and this might be a catalyst to awaken the sleeping giant called Super Eagles.
Football is 100% politics! And until we get that straight, we will continue to dance in the arena of sports mediocrity.
Thank you Dr Datti Baba Ahmed for remembering sports without been pushed to make that vow, May God elevate you and Mr Peter Obi to that office. The truth of the matter is that focusing on the Supper Eagles will be detrimental to the growth of our football, so to help our football sir, you first of all have to create a policy that will make football competition compulsory from primary to secondary and tertiary institutions like it is done in America where all sports are developed from their school system. That is why some undergraduates go to the Olympics win medals and return back to school. College football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, sprinting, wrestling etc are at per with professional sides in the United States. It can be done in Nigeria too, if we take football back to school, it will throw up so many gifted players that will make winning Afcon and even the World cup easy. Finally, shame on you sports journalist for not coming out to ask all the Presidential candidates their plan for sports developments, sports is a huge industry that has the potential of becoming a major contributor to our economy, yet all our sports journalist are keeping quiet in this campaign season.
And what is the name of the FOOTBALL club that represented ANAMBRA either State or Private sponsored during PETER OBI’S 8 years as ANAMBRA State Governor??
Can AHMED DATTI tell us his involvement in SPORTS development at any level ??
It’s easier to target GULLIBLE YOUTHS during Political season.
If someone like ORJI UZOR KALU, SONAME etc talk SPORTS, people like us will sit up and listen!
Go do your campaign in peace , but don’t think you can bobo any MATURED follower of SPORTS DEVELOPMENT