Sports
Only players with big heart should be fielded against Ghana Efe Ambrose warns
Former Nations cup winning super eagles defender Efe Ambrose has warned that the World cup playoff against Ghana should only be played by players who have big heart for big game.
The Former Celtic star said the Ghanains will come out with all they have and will leave everything on the pitch in the two legged ties especially because they are playing Nigeria.
He said though Nigeria has got good crop of players at the moment but stressed that it would not be enough to get the needed result against the Black stars if the players dont see as a “do or die”.
” I think the only way we can book the world cup ticket is to play only players with big heart who understand the eternal rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana”.
” Unfortunately i dont think we have many players in the current squad who have that big heart and big game mentality to play the Ghanains.
He added that the Ghanaians are deliberate in their quest to pick the World cup and that is why they have taken the first leg to a very terrible pitch in capecoast where they can unsettled the Eagles.
” Their choice to go to the bad pitch in capecoast is to make sure the eagles would not be able to play their game and that is why i am begging the coach to use only players who can play this kind of “rofo rofo” game.
He warned that Nigerians should not be deceived by the performance of the black stars at the last AFCON in cameroon because it is a different Ghanain performance we will see this time around.
Efe Ambrose who enjoyed 51 caps for the Super Eagles is currently on loan at Dunfirmline Athletics from St Johnstones in Scotland.
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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