Use WAFU Cup Victory To Reposition Nigerian Football – Daniel

Gov Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State has urged Nigerian football administrators to use the home-based Super Eagles’ triumph at the WAFU Nations Cup to reposition the game in the country.

In a congratulatory message to the Eagles, Daniel said it was important for the country to have a solid home-based national team, which could be fortified from time to time with foreign-based players.

 “This will enable Nigeria to fully regain its dominance at the senior national level,’’ he said.

The Nigerian team on Sunday in Abeokuta won the WAFU cup with a 2-0 defeat of Senegal in the final match.

Daniel said the Eagles, led by Solomon Okpako, deserved commendation for winning the trophy.

“The Eagles, in spite of the formidable opposition, showed resilience and gave everything in their quest for glory.

“They should be celebrated because the victory came as a soothing balm for the country in this challenging time.

“The time has come for the country’s sports administrators, particularly the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to put in place a standing home-based Super Eagles team.

“This will help us to have a ready squad to represent the country at all times,” the governor said in the message, a copy of which was made available to our source in Abeokuta.

He further said that the main Super Eagles team should see the victory of their compatriots in the WAFU Nations Cup as an inspiration for a better performance in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

“They (Super Eagles Team A) must go there to defend the honour of Nigeria and show the same fighting sprit displayed by the home-based Super Eagles during the WAFU Nations Cup,” Daniel said.