Eagles are Africa’s biggest hopes in Russia ―CAF President

Nigeria is Africa’s strongest export to the upcoming World Cup in Russia, according to CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad.

Ahmad state this on Wedneday during his meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, at FOUR SEASONS Hotel Casablanca, Morocco.

“Nigeria has played an important role in African football and is the strongest African contender at the World Cup in Russia. CAF is backing Nigeria to make a mark at the 2018 World Cup. We must prepare our African teams to make us proud at the World Cup,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad also praised Nigeria for qualifying for the quarter finals of the Championships of African Nations (CHAN), ongoing in Morocco, adding that Nigeria have always been the cynosure of all eyes at African and World Cup tournaments.

Dalung had used the occasion to thank Ahmad for his support to the five African countries that will be representing the continent at the World Cup in Russia, with particular reference to Nigeria’s football team.

The CAF president granted a financial subsidy of $500,000 to Africa’s five qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup to strengthen the technical supervision of the teams as well as a Fieldwiz equipment, a technological device used for measuring the physical performance for outdoor team sports players. The countries are Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Senegal.

Barrister Dalung commended the CAF President for his vision in changing the face of CAF and African football.

“I wish to thank you for turning around African football and giving it a facelift. Football in Africa today has been revolutionised and the effects of what we we are seeing now is unprecedented. CAF now consists of a new generation of football administrators and I am happy too that we have a Nigerian in the person of Amaju Pinnick in the inner caucus of CAF.

“I thank you for supporting Nigeria with $500,000 and an outdoor performance measurement equipment. This will assist the Nigeria Football Federation in preparing the Super Eagles for the World Cup.”

Also at the meeting were President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick; the Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Mr Edward Pakwok and Mrs Alabi Loveth Funmilayo.