Dikko tasks NFF to secure 2026 W’Cup ticket

By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 6, 2025

National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko has charged the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 World Cup, The PUNCH reports.

This comes as Nigeria sit in fifth place with just three points after four matches in their qualifying campaign, four points behind leaders Rwanda, with six games left to play in the series.

Dikko made this known during NFF president Ibrahim Gusau’s visit to the NSC Secretariat to brief him on preparations for the crucial World Cup qualifiers billed for March.

“NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau was at the NSC Secretariat today to brief the National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko on preparations for the crucial World Cup qualifiers billed for March. Discussions highlighted the need to ensure that the Super Eagles secure the group’s solitary ticket,” the NSC wrote on their official X account.

The Eagles, under new coach Eric Chelle, face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March in must-win fixtures as they bid to secure the group’s solitary ticket to the global showpiece, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Chelle, who was appointed some weeks ago, has already emphasised that qualifying for the World Cup remains his immediate priority ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December.

“We need to concentrate on the World Cup qualifiers first, and after that, in October, we can start thinking about AFCON. For now, we need to win two games in March,” Chelle told Pooja Media recently.

“As I’ve said before, my focus is on my players and March. We need to concentrate on the World Cup qualifiers first, and after that, in October, we can start thinking about AFCON. For now, we need to win two games in March.

“This is a draw, there are four teams and anyone in the AFCON can win the tournament but now I need to watch and work with my players on the two games in March against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.”

The Franco-Malian tactician will hope to reignite Nigeria’s qualification hopes with victories against the Amavubi in Kigali and Zimbabwe before the team regroups in September and October for their final four games in the series.

Under Dikko’s leadership, the NSC has seen a significant increase in the sports sector’s budget allocation from N29bn in 2024 to over N94bn in 2025, representing a 227 per cent increase, as they aim to revitalise Nigerian sports.

 

 

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 6, 2025


 

You may also like...
2019: Nigerian wrestlers tip Tinubu to succeed Buhari...

Mourinho Tells Spurs To Get Ready For Empty...

Uefa Super Cup Game To Go Ahead In...

Why Arsenal pulled out of Ramsey deal

Ronaldo Confident Of Champions League Turnaround

Tony Bellew broke his hand in David Haye...

 

Latest News Abraham set to join Besiktas from Roma 'Not impossible' Mbeumo will stay, say Brentford 'Turkish Messi' ready to replace Modric at Real Madrid Guardiola praises City’s performance despite Club World Cup exit Fluminense beat Inter Milan to reach Club World Cup quarter-finals Alcaraz avoids Fognini shock after fan taken ill Anambra School Sports Festival Ends In Emotional Grand Style As Njikoka Emerge Champions Club W’Cup: Chelsea face travel woes after group stage upset Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion Adesanya eyes Strickland fight for UFC return Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger Brentford reject Man Utd's new £62.5m Mbeumo bid

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,553 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,714 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,730 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,324 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,323 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,314 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,118 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,659 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,769 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,381 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,828 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,252 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media