Malam Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has encouraged the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. He hopes this victory will help make up for the disappointment of the team not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dikko shared these thoughts on Monday in Abuja during a meeting with sports officials from the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). He mentioned that President Bola Tinubu has asked the team to turn their disappointment from missing the World Cup into a strong motivation to secure a title in Africa.
“The message from Mr. President is very clear: the Super Eagles must do everything they can to win the AFCON and make it up to Nigerians for not qualifying for the World Cup,” Dikko said.
He cautioned against becoming overconfident, reminding everyone that performing well in the early matches doesn’t guarantee success later on. “We’ve seen teams lose focus after strong starts in the group stage,” he noted. “We need to learn from those experiences.”
Dikko said that the team is in a good place and understands the challenges ahead, emphasizing that finishing in second place would not be considered a success. “The only way we will consider this trip a success is if we do better than last time. Our goal is to lift the trophy,” he declared.
He also commended the Super Eagles for their recent performances, calling their last match one of the best in a long time.
The NSC boss encouraged the team to stay disciplined and focused as they get ready for the upcoming competition. Dikko reassured everyone that they don’t have to worry about the team’s well-being, saying that the coaches and staff will always receive their paychecks on time.
“There won’t be any problems with the coach’s salary, as all payments are expected to be up to date,” he mentioned.
“Our main goal is to play great football and win the AFCON trophy for Nigeria,” he added.
He also reaffirmed that the Federal Government and the NSC are fully committed to supporting the team as they prepare for the tournament in Morocco.
(NAN)