President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, on Friday said the federation was working on generating $2.8 million for the Super Eagles’ participation at the Russia 2018.
Pinnick, who disclosed this during the commissioning of Western Nigeria Football Forum office located at the famous Cocoa House in Ibadan, said good financial support was necessary for the team.
“We have to support them to succeed. We cannot afford to fail at the FIFA World Cup,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that football stakeholders in the South Western zone of Nigeria have been organising the Forum in collaboration with the DAWN Commission.
This was in order to revive the region’s football fortunes.
The NFF president said the federation had been monitoring the performance of Super Eagles players in their respective clubs.
“For instance, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, Kelechi Iheanacho and others are being monitored in their clubs to ensure they are doing well.
“Also, we have assisted Oghenekaro Otebo to move to UD Las Palmas in Spain to ensure that he plays in a strong league where he can play against world-class players like Lionel Messi,” he said.
Pinnick, while unveiling the new office, described the innovation as the future of football in Nigeria.
“I must commend the emergence of Western Nigeria Football League. It will form the future of Nigerian football. It is a pacesetter for other regions and it will assist in the discovery of new stars,” he said.
Pinnick said the southwest zone which produced the likes of Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Felix Owolabi and Sam Ojebode has again shown it is always the pacesetter.
“Ibadan, the headquarters of South West, is noted for being the first in the establishment of television, radio and university. This is another first the zone has recorded,” he said.
