In Support Of Super Eagles’ 2018 Russia World Cup Campaign

With the release by the Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, of a 30-man provisional squad for the Russia 2018 World Cup, Nigeria has shown that it is ready to compete with the giants of world soccer at the Mundial this summer.

Given the superlative performance of many of the invited players at both local and international scenes, expectations are high that the team would make the country proud at the tournament.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has also notably taken some bold steps to make the outing a successful one.

Its support for the team has also been encouraging. Of particular interest is the announcement by the NFF Executive Committee that all coaches of the Super Eagles team have been paid their salaries up to the end of the championship.

In furtherance of the preparations, we urge the NFF to streamline all provisions for the players/officials’ accommodation, match allowances and bonuses to ensure that the pitfalls of past appearances are not repeated.

Nigeria must use the Russia 2018 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on June 14, to reaffirm our unity as one indivisible people. This is against the backdrop that soccer has over the years, remained the only passion that brings all Nigerians together as one, irrespective of religion, tribe or position in society.

It is gratifying that the NFF had signed a partnership deal with Coca-Cola for the Super Eagles, and other national teams. The pact, which is said to be worth N1.4 billion ($4 million), is for a five-year period.

We particularly laud the initiative of energy giant, Aiteo Group, whose N2.8billion sponsorship of the NFF opened the gate for other corporate sponsors.

It was the Aiteo’s sponsorship window that facilitated the payment of the coaches’ salaries up to July, a sharp departure from the past where they were owed arrears of salaries.

THEWILL believes that this milestone would motivate the coaches to give their best, especially as non-payment of salaries and allowances had caused sharp divisions in the players’ camp in previous campaigns.

In the spirit of promoting the bond that football has created in Nigeria, we urge other corporate sponsors to emulate Aiteo, Coca-Cola, and others to put the players on a robust pedestal to delivering their best for the country.

But, THEWILL warns against undue interference by government officials and the NFF, who in the past had denied the players of their entitlements. We recall instances in the last world cup outing where the players lost concentration at the group stages because their match allowances were compromised.

In the circumstance, the presidency should designate an official whom Nigerians would hold accountable for any undue shortcoming during the Mundial.

Government and the NFF officials should not use the world cup to enrich themselves by misappropriating what has been earmarked for the players.

Since the buck stops on Coach Gohr’s table, the NFF, and by extension other government officials must give him a free hand in the selection of players. The mistakes of the past where players were imposed on the coach in the name of quota system should never repeat itself.

The football federation must also adhere strictly to its planned friendlies with other footballing countries. The proposed friendlies with Atletico Madrid this Tuesday, the Three Lions at Wembley on June 2 and a final friendly against the Czech Republic in Austria, among others, would go a long way in sharpening the skills of the players and their cohesion as a team.