Sports Minister Says Nigeria’s Football Is In Danger Of Collapse

Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare says the nation’s football is on the verge of collapse going by the failure of the national teams in some major tournaments in 2019.

Nigeria’s football experienced some major setbacks in 2019 after the Dream Team and the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Home-Based Super Eagles also crashed out of the West African Football Union Cup of Nations (WAFU) in the group stage, and also could not qualify for the African Nations Championship.

The Golden Eaglets despite their historic feat in the age-grade football, were ousted in the round of 16 by the Netherlands, while the Flying Eagles failed to zoom past Germany in the round of 16.

Reacting to questions on the general overview of football in the outgoing year (2019), Dare, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Olusade Adesola, told journalists during a sports exhibition in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja that the country has nothing to celebrate in the round leather game.

He queried the general performance of the national team and warned that football in the country is in danger of collapse if necessary steps are not taken.

“My excitement is subdued today not because we have not had a few successes in our football development, but because these successes have been diminished by recent losses and happenings in the world of football.

“We have gone from a football-loving nation to a nation that needlessly squabbles over football. We now showcase more of our disagreements and discordant tunes in football than the talents and skills that should be displayed in this game.

“Nigerians and the world have taken note and tough questions that require urgent answers are being asked. There is no better place to provide these answers here in this assembly, this morning,” Dare stated.

The Super Eagles are the only team that achieved minimal success in 2019, winning a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.