Kunle Adelabu
While Nigerians patiently awaits the verdict of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on the petition submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against the DR Congo over the alleged use of ineligible players against the Super Eagles in the African playoffs, Prince Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan, a former Director -General, Lagos State Sports Commission, has urged that the country should focus on preparing for the qualification for next world cup in 2030.
He charged the NFF after FIFA failed to deliver its verdict on the petition last week.
FIFA has given the co-hosting right for the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, after the 2026 edition which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and United States of America, between June and July.
Nigeria had filed a petition to FIFA after losing to DR Congo on penalties in the African playoffs last November. The NFF questioned the eligibility of some Congolese players, arguing that DR Congo’s domestic law does not recognise dual citizenship for adults. The federation claimed that some players may have kept European passports, while representing DR Congo.
Bolowotan, who spoke with THE IMPACT on phone, said that Nigerians should forget about going to this year’s edition of the global tournament, and called on the NFF to reorganize itself and prepare for future tournaments.
“We need to prepare for the next world cup. This one has gone. We have missed this opportunity and we need to start preparing for the next one.
“We need to prepare for whatever tournament we are participating in in future. It was our disorganization that caused us the opportunity to be at this year’s world cup.
“We have good players and a team and we need to keep them”, Prince Bolowotan said.
While also urging many of the players that showed class at the recently concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, to move on and forget about participating in this year’s world cup, the former DG Lagos Sports Commission also expressed that many of the present crop of Super Eagles players will not be active in the next four years.
He urged early preparations for the 2030 World Cup and other tournaments that the country would be participating in.
“I wish our players the best of luck, but they need to move on with their lives because many of them have missed the opportunity to be at the world cup because of our disorganization.
“We cannot have many of them still active in the next four years, and that is why we have to start preparing to scout for talented young players”, he added.
