CANCELLATION OF U20 and U17 WORLD CUP: LET US EXPLORE & EXPLOIT THE OPPORTUNITIES. Godwin Bamigboye

The cancellation of the Under 20 and U17 FIFA World Cups earlier scheduled to hold in the year 2021 has been described as disappointments which should be seen as opportunities.

The effects of COVID-19 without mincing words has adversely affected sports in Nigeria looking at the long period of lockdown and the reluctance of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to lift the ban on contact sports even when markets were in full operations.

It was therefore not strange to see our Clubs participating in the African Football Competitions struggling in their Continental engagements. Our Under 20 and Under 17 teams were also exposed to the consequences posed by the long period of inactivity.

The exit of the Under 20, Flying Eagles from the qualification stage for the now cancelled World Cup and the possibility of the U17 also becoming victims was averted.

All these occurrences are indeed a huge disappointment to those who wished to be at the World stage to exhibit their talents but to some it is a relief because they have the opportunity to try again.

I want to see this disappointment as great opportunities opened to us, Nigerians in particular. I therefore want to advise that the age group National teams should continue their preparations for 2023 by recruiting players that will be invited to camp at intervals. This will ensure that Nigeria has a formidable team in readiness for qualification for the World Cup with a deliberate plan to win the two World Cups especially in the Under 20 category.

I therefore advise the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give the necessary support and encouragement to the technical crew of both the male and female categories of the various national teams the luxury to prepare their teams over a long period of time. The home based Super Eagles should not wait until CHAN is around the corner to resume training. The Super Falcons should also be looking beyond their dominance of women football in Africa. They should rather deliberately target winning the Senior Women World Cup especially with the increasing number of our female footballers in the European Women Leagues.

These are opportunities we must explore and exploit now and not allow the "disappointments" from cancellation of the World Cups affect us. May I congratulate the LMC for the kick off of the NPFL today. Kudos to the Nigeria Women Football League for taking the lead. NNL and the Nationwide League should also follow in due time.

This is my little contribution. Compliments of the season.