Ambode for World Cup, says Eagles will fly

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, as a member of the Federal Government delegation to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, saying the appointment was in recognition of the massive investment and commitment to sports development which the governor had exhibited in the last three years.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung disclosed this when he led a delegation from the International Paralympics Committee on a courtesy visit to Governor Ambode at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday.

Dalung, while handing over the letter of appointment to the governor, said Lagos had been home to sports, and that it was gratifying that Governor Ambode

“The president’s approval of you as a member of that delegation is borne out of the conviction that you have been one of the Governors that have invested heavily in sports and also supported Sports.

The minister said the high-powered delegation from the International Paralympics Committee led by Mr Sam Munkley was at Lagos House as part of the bid by Nigeria to host the International Paralympics Championship in Lagos come 2019, pointing out that apart from conducting training for Nigerian Paralympics association and stakeholders, the delegation would also inspect the facilities to be used when the country got the hosting right for the tournament.

Governor Ambode, while responding, thanked President Buhari for appointing him into the Federal Government’s delegation to the World Cup, saying that with the morale and physical support for the Super Eagles, Nigerians would be made proud at the end of the day.

He specifically allayed fears in some quarters over the losing streak suffered by the team in some of the friendly matches played in preparation for the tournament, insisting that the succession of defeats to Atletico Madrid, England and Czech Republic were part of the strategy to understand the areas to concentrate on in having a well-rounded team.

“With our morale and physical support, Nigerians would be made proud and I am sure people should not bother about what they are seeing with the friendly matches; they are supposed to be friendlies and I am sure the team will put all their energy and make Nigeria proud,” he said.