In a statement issued Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged the leadership of the world football governing body FIFA to prioritize Nigeria as a priority in its plan for assistance and investment.
The President also expressed his administration’s commitment to using football to promote the development of girls and young women, as well as to encouraging young people to pursue meaningful professions in the sport.
The President, while receiving a delegation from FIFA, led by its President Gianni Infantino, and the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, at the presidential villa in Abuja, called on FIFA’s top echelon to recognize Nigeria as one of the world governing body’s greatest assets when it comes to the development of football.
Concerning women’s football, President Buhari expressed satisfaction with the fact that Nigeria has produced excellent role models to motivate the next generation of stars to take up the game.
“Our National Women’s football team, the Super Falcons are a force to reckon with both on the continent and internationally,” the President said, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina.
“Some of our women footballers such as Asisat Oshoala, who only recently became the first African to win the women’s European Champions League with her club Barcelona.
“Rasheedat Ajibade, Rita Chikwelu, Onome Ebi, who is the only African to have played in five FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals, Desire Oparanozie and before them Perpetual Nkwocha, Mercy Akide-Udoh, Nkiru Okosieme, and Ann Chiejiene are globally recognized stars.”
As part of his remarks to the visiting FIFA President, who is in the country for the Aisha Buhari Invitational Football Tournament, President Buhari stated that his administration has embraced football as a national asset since 2017.
He went on to say that the sport is receiving the highest level of attention possible from the government in order to facilitate the quick development of the country’s abundance of talent in the sport.
“I have also approved the unveiling of a committee to draw up a 10-year football development master plan for the country.
“I expect that the recommendations of this committee will accelerate the development of football. It is my hope that it will further improve the fortunes of the game internationally.”
Speaking about the Aisha Buhari Cup (ABC), which is now taking place in Lagos under the theme “Playing for Good,” the Nigerian leader stated that the competition could not have arrived at a more appropriate time.
“This Women’s football competition is a novel idea here and I am sure it will be exciting in its execution for our womenfolk and lovers of PPP. It is also a confirmation of what we already know about our women,” he added.
He expressed his gratitude to FIFA for creating ABC, a ranking event, and expressed his hope that more countries will come in to play in the future.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who characterized football as one of the most powerful sources of national and international solidarity in the country and throughout the world, said:
“Our hearts beat as one anytime our teams are playing a football match. Our youth are always positively engaged when our national football teams are on assignment.”
