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By Anthony Nlebem.
The Confederation of African Football President, Patrice Motsepe, is confident Nigeria have the potential to win the FIFA World Cup, provided the country focuses more on grassroots football development.
Motsepe stated this on Channels TV following Morocco’s successful 2022 World Cup outing where the Alas Lions reached the quarter-finals of Qatar 2022, to become the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals. Ghana, Cameroon, and Senegal have all reached the quarterfinals.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup after losing to Ghana on away-goal rule
The CAF President claims football in Africa is growing and tipped Nigeria to the World Cup, noting that the country is blessed with talents that make it happen.
“I am absolutely confident because of the talent, God-given skills, and history of Nigerian football,” Motsepe told Channels TV.
“Nigeria is one of those countries that have the potential – not just to go to the semi-final, not just to go to the final, but to win the World Cup.
“However, they have to focus on youth football development, football facilities for boys and girls, amateur football, and football development at the club level.
“They have to train coaches and train the trainers. Nigeria have to develop referees and very importantly, to make sure that we work together with the football federation in Nigeria so that they can continue the leadership that they have provided for many years.
“We are confident that Nigerian football will continue to be not just amongst the best in Africa but in the world. I know Nigeria will make us proud as it has on so many occasions in the past. Our plan is to see Nigeria in the next World Cup.”
Nigeria have made six FIFA World Cup appearances, the first being in 1994 when they reached the second round. Their recent appearance was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
