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Makanjuola Sets Sight On Using FIFA U20 W/Cup As Springboard To Success

Published

6 years ago

May 16, 2019

Makanjuola Sets Sight On Using FIFA U20 W/Cup As Springboard To Success

Flying Eagles’ forward Success Makanjuola says the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup which gets underway in Poland next week will provide a perfect opportunity for him to excel.

Makanjuola, while speaking Thursday with www.bsnsports.com.ng (BSN Sports) from the team’s training camp in Germany, said he was itching to fully utilise Poland 2019 like others before him.

The player fondly called “Light’’ by his admirers said being picked for the national under-20 male team by coach Paul Aigbogun was a great opportunity he was going to fully utilise.

“I’m glad to make the team. It’s a great opportunity I have been looking forward to over the last few years and I bless God’s name for making it happen now, ” Makanjuola, who has been rated as one of the biggest players to shine at the World Cup in Poland, said.

He was no doubt an obvious choice for Aigbogun and his technical crew colleagues at the Flying Eagles.

Having lost the chance of having Samuel Chukwueze, who chose featuring for the Super Eagles at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt instead of Poland 2019, Aigbogun was treading the right path.

The coach’s decision to name the technically-gifted Makanjuola in the 21-man list for Poland as a perfect replacement for Chukwueze of Spanish La Liga side Villarreal has been quickly justified.

Makanjuola emerged Man Of The Match in his first game for the Flying Eagles, on Tuesday against Austrian Bundesliga II side Red Bull Salzburg in a friendly which ended 1-1.

He showed that he has tremendously improved in the last two years and could be a poster boy for the Nigerian team with his dazzling qualities.

“Lionel Messi (of FC Barcelona and Argentina) has been a player I always learn from in every game he plays.

“Because I have been learning from him over the years, my dribbling skills and abilities have made whoever watches me play to draw comparison with Messi,’’ Makanjuola said.

The player who is few weeks away from clocking 18 years of age has however also shown he is wise beyond his years.

With a heart full of determination, as well as his strength and speed, Makanjuola believes he has learnt a lot from his favourite player has and would still learnt a lot.

“The only player I always look up to is Lionel Messi. I derive every playing pattern from Messi. He’s my idol and I love him. I love the way he plays and I have understudied his playing style to shine as a player and I dream of getting to his level in the future.

“It will be a miracle from God Almighty to see another player like Messi today, but with God permitting I have something better to show and to prove what I have learnt from him in the past few years.

“Already, the Flying Eagles’ coaching crew has built my confidence in the team and I am ready to play with my team mates and we are all ready to give our best in every game we play.”

Makanjuola, who shoots well and plays with the experience of a veteran, and he believes his youthful speed and deceptive strength will allow him to make a big impact.

“I am ready for the journey of gold and by the grace of God and our self-determination, focus, discipline, prayers, diligence and fans’ support we will make it happen.”

The player who is a product of Water FC of Abuja, the same youth academy which produced Babatunde Michael, is also optimistic of covering further ground with the Poland 2019 outing.

Makanjuola believes he can use the FIFA U-20 World Cup to earn a place in one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

BSN Sports

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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