Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has solicited for more corporate organisations to support it in developing football in the country.
The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, made the call when MTN Nigeria hosted the Nigerian Super Eagles who won silver medal at the just-concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) to a breakfast meeting on Tuesday, in Abuja.
The Super Eagles finished as runners up to the host country, Ivory Coast.
Gusau noted that without finance, the team could not have achieved what it achieved, adding that for the federation to achieve more in football development, more corporate organisations should fund football development through the NFF.
“All of us here today would have loved to be celebrating here with the trophy but unfortunately God knows why. But we thank God at least as we heard from the captain this is the beginning of the new dawn as far as Nigerian football is concerned.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank MTN for their support and I hope that other corporate organisations will come up to see how they can support us the more, because without the finances, we cannot achieve what we have been able to achieve.
“So, we need more corporate organisations to come and support us so that we can continue to build on what we have so far built,” he said.
The Chairman, MTN Board of Directors,
Prof. Ernest Ndukwe, said MTN was doing this as its own way of giving back to the society for all the support it has been getting all these years from Nigerians.
“This is because MTN is a sport loving organisation. Over the years, we have always wanted to support the Super Eagles in various ways. MTN is fully committed to continuing with the Super Eagles.
“We are building a nation where sports has a great role to play as a unifying force. So if we support sports, we are actually promoting unity among Nigerians,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Nigerian, Karl Toriola, on his part, said he so much appreciated the emotional commitment of the players to succeed.
“What I liked about this team, which we haven’t seen in other teams of other nations, was the visible emotional commitment to succeed. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring the cup home but that was always going to be difficult when you are playing against your host country. It was incredible and the resilience that you showed getting to the finals.
“You guys have shown your complete commitment through your leadership and we are extremely proud of you supporting the Nigerian Football Federation and the Super Eagles,” Toriola said.
The Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, thanked everyone that supported the team all through their preparations and the tournament proper.
“To the NFF, I thank you, MTN I thank you, Nigerians I thank you for all the support,” Peseiro said.
The Assistant Captain of the Super Eagles, Troost Ekong, who spoke on behalf of the team, said this was the beginning of a new era.
He said: “Thank you NFF, thank you MTN, thank you Nigerians, thank you our fans. We have given everything we have and have made everyone proud. But we will be better in the future, because this is not the end but the beginning of something new, and we are hoping for the best.”
A board member of MTN Nigeria and former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ifueko Okauru, said MTN supports all gender, age bracket, able and disabled persons in the society.
“MTN supports all gender and all of us both abled and disabled, young and old. Whatever is needed to support MTN is here to support.
“Sports development is more than just what cooperate organisations do; it needs significant funding and it also needs passion to ensure that this is done and done excellently.
“I must say though we all love sports, the fans are a major part of sports development. The economic condition of the fan is very important to ensure that as a corporate organisation, we drive sports development by encouraging fans development and develop businesses around sports to grow sports,” she said.
