Dalung Reviews Nigeria’s 2016 Sports Performance

Assures of Repositioning of Federations & Better days in 2017

Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister Barr Solomon Dalung has said that the Nigerian sports recorded significant achievements in the outgoing year and assured that things will get better in 2017.

He also said that the repositioning of sports in 2017 will start with election of new helmsmen and women with proven love and passion for the different sports to run the federations in 2017 and assured of government non-interference in the process.

The Minister who made the statement while appearing live on TVC  Programme yesterday sited the unprecedented performance of the Nigeria’s Paralympic Team in RIO, the relaunching back of Nigeria to the medals Table at the RIO Olympics through the Bronze medals won in Football, our posting the best African record performances in Table Tennis and Rowing at the same Olympics and the improvement in the international ranking of our Basket Ball team following their good showing at the Olympics even though they didn’t win a medal.

The Minister who praised the success recorded by the Super Eagles in its effort to pick qualification ticker to Russia 2018 World Cup observed that Nigeria’s victory over Zambia in their backyard was in itself a record; and that the Super Falcons is also poised to reinforce Nigeria’s position as the powerhouse of female soccer in Africa.

Dalung used the occasion to refute the accusation of bias against female national teams compared to their male counterparts and assured of continued support for all sports.

The Minister once again debunked the news that the country is not keen in participating in 2018 World Cup; insisting that he was quoted out of contest. He assured that he and the NFF are on the same page in their determination to secure qualification for the next Mudial and assured that everything necessary is being done to realise this objective

The Minister acknowledged some  ups and downs in 2016 sports score card but said over all, there are many positives and assured that a critical assessment of the nation’s performance in the outgoing year is underway. He also assured that with prospect of improved funding in 2017 budget, Nigeria is poised to do better in 2017.

Tolu Makinde

Director of Press