The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung is set to hit Ghana on Sunday to cheer the Super Eagles to victory in the final of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations against hosts Black Stars of Ghana.
This move is part of the motivation drive of the Federal Government to athletes ahead of the final match which will take place in the Cape Coast Metropolitan District of Central Ghana on Sunday.
Dalung said he will be in Ghana to motivate Nigeria’s players drawn from the Nigeria Professional Football league NPFL. Making this known less than 24 hours to the game between the two arch rivals in African football, he congratulated the Coach Salisu Yusuf led team for improving with each game which has seen them qualify for the finals.
“You have come this far in the WAFU Nations Cup tournament because of your determination, hard work, strength and resilience which is highly commendable.
“The Black Stars of Ghana are a big rival in football whenever Nigeria’s Super Eagles are involved but you defeated them 2-0 in front of their home crowd to qualify for the semifinals. That success should spur you to victory in the final, irrespective of the home crowd you’ll be facing in Ghana.”
He traced the good run of the team to the recent turn around in the Nigeria Professional Football League which has continued to grow in leaps and bounds with an assurance that Nigerians will back them with their support and prayers.
“Millions of Nigerians will be watching the game while some are already in Ghana to support you. I urge you to play fairly and bring the WAFU Nations Cup to Nigeria which will be the appropriate independence gift for Nigeria.”
Nigeria who will be facing Ghana for the second time in this competition won the WAFU Cup in 2010 while Ghana won it in 2013.