The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, pled with the men’s football team, the Super Eagles, to win the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations, saying that victory will benefit the people.
He said, “You are our country’s unifier, as much as we will be putting pressure on you during the matches, Nigerians expect you to do that (unifying spirit) for us. We believe we have the men who can do it for us.
“People might say we don’t have a team, it’s another thing to believe in yourself and once you believe in yourself and as a team, we are on that track already, no matter the obstacles, no matter the fuel price facing the country, but just to go out there and demonstrate your undying spirit as Nigerians with a total of 220 million people in the country and the Diaspora are right behind you.
“And this is how you can write your names in gold forever. And I want to assure you that this number (220 million Nigerians) is behind you in support.
“We know you have a sense of patronage and patriotism, let that be your driving force. Let it encourage you that, for our country at the moment, we need this unifier. We need peace, we need sports as a healing tool for us, (Nigerians).”
Sanwo-Olu told the Eagles that Nigerians “need that cup to be a succour that would energise us and bring together all of the yearnings of this country. And I pray God gives you the strength to achieve this.”
He told the players to ensure they “don’t give up,” adding, “It could be that the first half is not what you want, to give up. It could get to 70 minutes, don’t give up.
“You could see 80 minutes, don’t give up. You have to have that belief that until the whistle blows, you still have an opportunity and that’s how life is.”
“Because when we want to say that we will do it again, it is not by mouth alone, it’s about that team’s spirit and commitment. Just know that over 222 million Nigerians are behind you,” the governor stated.
Among those there were Senator John Enoh, the minister of sports, and Ibrahim Gusau, the chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation.