Russia 2018: Ambode plays down Eagles defeats

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has allayed fears in some quarters over the losing streak suffered by the Super Eagles against Czech Republic and England. He stressed that the defeats were part of the strategy to understand the areas to concentrate on in having a well-rounded team.

This is coming on the heels of his appointment as a member of the Federal Government Delegation to the  2018 FIFA World Cup in Bussia by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung who said this when he led a delegation from the  International Paralympics Committee on a courtesy visit to Governor Ambode at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja on Thursday, said the appointment was in recognition of the massive investment and commitment to sports development which the Governor had exhibited in the last three years.

While handing over the letter of appointment to the Governor, Dalung said Lagos had been home to sports, and that it was gratifying that Governor Ambode had repositioned sports as a catalyst for development and growth in the State.

“Your Excellency, I want to inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved you as one of the members of the Federal Government Delegation that would be leading and representing him and other Nigerians in Russia at the World Cup.

“The President’s approval of you as a member of that delegation is borne out of the conviction that you have been one of the Governors that have invested heavily in sports and also supported Sports.

“Lagos is home to sports and so we are always here. We are always here because of the very friendly environment and a good relationship the Ministry enjoys with the Lagos State Government and the fraternity of the government and people of Lagos is one of the major reasons why we will often visit the Governor when the occasion demands,” Dalung said.

He said the high-powered delegation from the International Paralympics Committee led by Mr Sam Munkley was at Lagos House as part of the bid by Nigeria to host the International Paralympics Championship in Lagos come 2019, saying apart from conducting training for Nigerian Paralympics association and stakeholders, the delegation would also inspect the facilities to be used when the country gets the hosting right for the tournament.

Responding, Governor Ambode thanked President Buhari for appointing him into FG’s delegation to the World Cup, saying that with the morale and physical support for the Super Eagles, Nigerians would be made proud at the end of the day.