The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved funds for the World Cup Qualifier between Nigeria and Zambia.
There had been reports that the NFF was unable to release funds for the match due to financial challenges, which it denied.
Dalung, while speaking with journalists at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the NFF has financial challenges and needed to plead with the President for assistance.
He said, “I think that yes we are facing economic challenges, but the President have been quite supportive.
“On Sunday, I could not go to church I have to sit to draft a memo which was taken to the president on Sunday, he approved it for funds to be provided for the team to travel that is how serious this government take sports. So I think that there is no need for much panic or fear so Nigerians should support the Super Eagles and pray for their success and we wish them a successive outing and even winning the ticket of the group to represent our zone in the world cup, that is our prayer”
The minister also denied reports that the sports ministry has refused to reward the victorious paralympics team.
“I supervised the payment of bonuses of $5000 for gold medalists, $3000 for silver medalists and $2000 for bronze medalists. So, those raising the issue that they had not been compensated may not by aware.
“Even, Yakubu, who had a world record, but due to administrative lapses, was unable to be presented to defend his medal, I insisted that it will be unjust to exclude him from those who have got medals. His record was not even beaten by the person who took the medal. The difference was that he was not presented by the country.
“So, I instructed that he must also get $5000 as a gold medalist. So, it is not correct to say that they have not been compensated. After the reward from the ministry, there is a need to get presidential blessing. So, if Nigerians are talking about the presidential blessing, I have written the president.
“As soon as we get his approval, a day to honour those who have made Nigeria proud, will be honoured. Let’s not lose touch of the fact that we as a country are undergoing certain challenges. So, we must do things based on reality on the ground.
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