In a rather candid assessment, Senator John Owan Enoh, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, expressed his concerns over the performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their recent match against Lesotho. The encounter, held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on November 16, 2023, left many fans and officials wanting.
Expectations were high for a commanding victory, considering Nigeria’s FIFA ranking and football pedigree. However, the Super Eagles’ performance against the Lesotho team fell short of these expectations. Senator John Owan Enoh, via a Friday press statement personally signed by him, emphasized the nation’s strong desire to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, following the disappointment of missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The Minister urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to address the observed lapses from the Lesotho match promptly. With another qualifier against Zimbabwe in Rwanda on November 19, 2023, he stressed the importance of an improved performance.
The Minister acknowledged the challenges with television broadcasting rights, an issue under FIFA’s jurisdiction. He assured Nigerians that the Ministry is taking steps to address this situation, expressing regret that fans couldn’t watch the national team play in their own country during the Lesotho match.
Senator John Owan Enoh, on behalf of the Ministry, apologized to Nigerians who anticipated watching the game on television. He urged the NFF to register Nigeria’s displeasure with the appropriate authorities in FIFA to prevent a recurrence.
In closing, the Minister rallied support for the Super Eagles, encouraging them to be more incisive in the upcoming qualifiers. The entire nation is eagerly rooting for their success.
