Does the Nigerian government actually appreciate the socio-economic power of football

Ayo Akinfe

[1] In a developing nation, football is more just a game. It is a tool of When you have been around the presidency as I have, you will be shocked at how many doors it opens. Trust me, no coach in the world will turn down a direct request from Nigeria’s presidentsocial cohesion

[2] In a diverse multicultural nation like Nigeria, football can be the cement that binds the country together

[3] Do you know that football was the only thing the Taliban could not ban in Afghanistan

[4] Do you know that the Ivorian civil war ended in 2006 when they qualified for the World Cup and got to the Nations Cup final

[5] I put it to you that kidnapping in banditry would reduce by about 50% tomorrow in Nigeria if the Super Eagles won the World Cup

[6] Our economy would get such a bounce after lifting the World Cup that GDP would rise by about 20%

[7] Just imagine the number of investors a World Cup victory would attract. To understand my point, check out how many people are consulting their maps today and discovering Cape Verde for the first time

[8] Were I in President Tinubu’s shoes, I would integrate winning the World Cup into my economic programme

[9] As a first step towards winning the trophy, President Tinubu should help the NFF recruit a Guadiola or a Mourinho. Nobody turns down a nation’s president

[10] I actually wonder if Nigeria’s sports minister makes this case to the president on a daily basis

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