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Eagles World Cup Cash: Buhari to intervene

Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good office to
secure the release of the money approved for the Super Eagles ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup in
Russia.

Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good office to
secure the release of the money approved for the Super Eagles ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup in
Russia.

“I informed him that we have not gotten the releases and we asked him to intervene so that the funds can
be released because we have gotten all our funds from FIFA, from CAF, we have had a dinner for the
team, our donors have redeemed their pledges but on the side of government we need to round it up and
the President has assured he was going to do something about it immediately to ensure that that gap is
closed.”

Dalung told Journalists on Monday in Abuja that the President has promised to intervene to ensure a hitch free campaign.

“The delay is not actually affecting us because of the funds we have from FIFA for operation and from
CAF. Indeed, the fund from the federal government is going to complement our actual participation in
Russia. So we have funds from different sources to prepare.

“What we need now is the participation proper for the tournament and it is going to come from the
government. So it is not actually affecting our preparation.” he said

“I briefed the President about further friendlies we have ahead and the need for the president to
mobilise more support for the team.

On the chances of the Super Eagles at the World Cup, he said “We are going to Russia as contestants
and not as participants. As to at what stage will Nigeria will reach this time, we are not going there
to end mid way, we are going there for the cup and we will do everything possible within our best to
make sure that we get to realise our ambitions.”

“I also raised concern about what is going on specifically the issue of mobilising of Nigerians for towards the World Cup because I have it on strong authority there are a lot of things going on looking more or less
not suggesting something clean about how we intend to have people participate for world cup.

“There are those who are busy writing names, misleading Nigerians that they will give them the access
to participate in the World Cup and I have told them I am going to text them to make sure that anybody
who is going to travel for the World Cup based on government sponsorship, the person must be known
and the president must know so that we try nip it in the bud racketeering and human trafficking because
the attitude of the world as to issue of movement of citizens when there is sports or any other events
have been very strict and we wouldn’t want our image to be battered.” he said.

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