U-17: Nigeria assures hitch-free tournament

  1. Posted on Thursday 22 October 2009 - 13:00
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Kamara Mohammed, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Nigeria President Umaru Yar'Adua has assured that his country will host a hitch-free U-17 World Cup. He said: "Let me assure the world that Nigeria will do everything possible to have a hitch-free tournament.'' The President made this remarks while receiving the Under-17 World Cup trophy in Abuja, Nigeria.
    Nigeria 2009
    The Under-17 World Cup which is schedule to start on Saturday October 24th has faced sharp criticism by football officials. FIFA at one stage threatens to remove the tournament from that country because of what they described as organisational difficulties.

    FIFAVice President, Jack Warner, urged the West African most populace nation earlier to follow the foot steps of Egypt which hosted the just ended Under-20 World Cup.

    Despite doubts, Yar’Adua has guaranteed according to the Pan African News Agency that “(The) federal government will support all our organs and agencies to ensure that they perform their duties to make this tournament a memorable one throughout the world.''

    Yar’Adua also thanked Fifa for giving hosting rights to the continent for the three World Cups; Under-20, South Africa 2010 World Cup and the Confederation Cup.

    He added:“I call on all Nigerians to show the outside world the stuff we are made of, in terms of hospitality, friendship, brotherhood and our ability to make people and guests to feel at home such that FIFA will always be tempted to bring world competitions to Nigeria, which is a leading football nation.''

    The tournament will be hosted in different states in Nigeria including state in the trouble Niger-Delta region. The 24 nation tournament will run through to November 15th.

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