ABUJA - The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday commended the decision of the Federal Government to go ahead with the hosting of next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup finals.
Amanze Uchegbulam said President Umar Musa Yar’Adua has by that decision, restored the confidence of the international community in the Nigeria nation.
“The earlier suggestion not to go ahead with the hosting would have constituted a massive embarrassment to the country and drastically reduce our stature in the international game.
“It would also have set Nigeria football back by so many years. If the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma and Celestine Babayaro were denied the opportunity of taking part in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan, how would they have had their big break and become the famous names they are all over the world today?
“Mr. President has come in at a very critical period in the nation’s life to save us a colossal embarrassment and the Nigeria Football Federation are quite happy about this. This decision demonstrates the present administration’s genuine love for the youth,” Uchegbulam said.
The Federal Government, in announcing its decision to go ahead with the staging of the 24 –team showpiece in October next year, are budgeting the sum of N9 Billion for the project in next year’s fiscal estimate.
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