Sports
Qatar 2022 Race: Musa, Ighalo, Troost-Ekong 5 Others hit camp For Black Stars Cracker
…We are ready to host Ghana- Logistic Committee
By Joel Ajayi
Ahead of Friday’s world cup qualifiers against the black star of Ghana, the Super Eagles on Monday evening have the first training session for the encounter.
As of Monday evening, 6 Super Eagles invited players have hit the camp.
The early birds in camp include Vice-Captain and Watford defender William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion), and Frank Onyeka (Brentford), all based in England.
The rests are Leon Balogun (Rangers, Scotland), Ola Aina (Torino FC, Italy), Odion Ighalo (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), and Daniel Akpeyi
Also, Monday evening witnessed the arrival of Eagle’s captain Ahmed Musa to Wells Carlton hotel in Asokoro, Abuja.
However, the Committee set up by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has assured that all is ready to host the world cup qualifier game between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their rival the black stars of Ghana.
The Chairman of logistics and Media aid to the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, Mr. Kola Daniel said the committee has perfected plans to ensure buses are available to convey fans from the nook and crannies of Abuja and its environs.
Speaking at the stadium on Monday inside the Moshood Abiola Stadium, he expressed that the stadium is ready, he thereby appeals to the fans to make Moshood Abiola their home come Tuesday
“I want to appeal to Nigerians to have a sense of patriotism where fans should come out in their numbers putting on the green white green to cheer eagle’s
“It’s going to march where the expectation is high, the logistics committee has discussed in detail that buses be available to convey fans in all nooks and crannies of Abuja and its environs.
“It’s a world cup qualification march, the importance of the march to Nigerians can never be undermined if we qualify for the world cup it will boost the economics activities of the country and it will be a pride seen Nigeria flag flying high in Qatar 2022 world cup.”
meanwhile, the Black Stars, four-time African champions, will host perennial rival, Nigeria at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi on March 25 before traveling to Abuja for the second leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on March 29, 2022.
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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