Senator John Owan-Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, urges Nigeria’s Super Eagles to kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with determination.
The United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Ahead of the team’s first home game in the qualifying series against Lesotho on Thursday in Uyo, the minister made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
After that, on Sunday, the Eagles and Zimbabwe will square off in the second league of the doubleheader qualifiers. He emphasized that the team must be merciless and refrain from following the same path that resulted in their tragic disqualification from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“The memory of losing out during the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians.
“The team should avoid leaving their fate to permutations. We should bring out our best to pick the first six points in front of us,” he said.
Owan-Enoh emphasized the great pride the country has in the Super Eagles while expressing trust in the team’s abilities. He asked the players and the technical staff to play their hardest in the two important games.
“I have complete faith in our talented squad. The Super Eagles have a rich history of success, and we believe they are fully capable of securing two wins in the upcoming matches.
“This is not just a football game; it is a representation of the spirit and resilience of the Nigerian people. I encourage our players to give their all on the field and make the nation proud,” he charged.
The minister also expressed gratitude to the support staff and coaching staff, under the direction of Jose Peseiro, for their commitment and diligence in getting the team ready.
“As the Minister of Sports Development, I want to assure the full support of the government.
“We will continue to invest in sports infrastructure, training facilities, and programs that nurture the talent of our young athletes,” he said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the three-time AFCON Champions Super Eagles will play their opening match of the season on Thursday in Uyo against Lesotho and their away match against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
