Sports
Future Of Football Is In The Hand Of Youth Players-Sports Minister
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, on Monday revealed that the Future of football is in the hands of Youth Players.
Dare stated in Abuja during a welcome reception for the victorious U-20 men’s national team, the Flying Eagles who emerged winner of WAFU B zone championship in Niamey, Niger republic over the weekend.
He said the youth indeed, have a lot of potential for development of our football and there is a need to nurture them the most.
According to him, Fifa doesn’t joke with the issue of youth football and countries that depart from the development of youth football do it at their own peril.
“I am appealing to NFF to Keep the team together, organize training, friendly matches for them, we will support all our national teams, we will make sure that our domestic league gets a rebirth and accord the quality it deserves, Nigeria must not throw away these young people.
“I want you to maintain the same level of discipline on all sides. This is the only way we can have players who will go on to play for Super Eagles as well as top clubs in Europe.
“The future of football is in the hands of these young ones and we must do all to ensure it remains the same.”
He urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to work toward the improvement of domestic leagues in the country.
The minister said though, the performance showed the commitment of the board of the NFF toward improving the game of football in the country but there is need for them to do more.
In his remark, the General Secretary of NFF Dr. Mohammed Sansui, lauded the minister for his commitment to the growth of the game.
However, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have qualified for the 2023 U-20 African Championship in Egypt.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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