NIGERIANS URGED TO UNITE BEHIND SUPER EAGLES AS WORLD CUP PLAYOFFS APPROACH

By: Gyang Dakwo

As the Super Eagles prepare for the crucial World Cup playoffs, Nigerians have been urged to come together and avoid distractions that could affect the team’s performance.

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, made the appeal while reacting to criticism over the recently completed FIFA-funded Goal Project in Birnin Kebbi.

Some lawmakers had described the 1.2 million dollar project as substandard, but Dikko said the facility met all international standards and had been fully approved and certified by FIFA.

“I was the first person to handle a FIFA Goal Project in Nigeria, so I can speak to the Kebbi project issue,” Dikko said. “The project was properly advertised, monitored, and certified by FIFA. The money released for it was 1.2 million dollars at an exchange rate of around 300 naira to a dollar. It is absurd to compare that with the Nairobi project, which costs over 300 million dollars and is being handled by a national government.”

He said attention should now be on supporting Nigeria’s World Cup qualification drive rather than spreading unverified claims for political reasons.

“As professionals, I advise everyone to verify their information before making conclusions,” Dikko said. “At a time when the Super Eagles are preparing for the biggest playoff of their generation, we should not allow politics to divide us. The players, coaches, and administrators need total concentration to get Nigeria to the World Cup.”

Dikko explained that FIFA Goal Projects such as the one in Kebbi are designed to improve football facilities across the country and support the long-term growth of the game.

He assured Nigerians that the National Sports Commission is committed to openness, youth development, and ensuring that the Super Eagles return to the world stage in 2026.