AFCON 2019: Nigeria sends high-level delegation to support Super Eagles in Egypt
The stakes are very high for Nigeria’s football team in the 2019 AFCON, and the government has picked a high-level delegation to go to Egypt to motivate the players as they chase top honours.
President Muhammadu Buhari has selected an 11-member delegation led by Senate president Ahmed Lawan, to head to Egypt at the beginning of the knockout stages.
Lawan will be joined by Femi Gbajabiamila – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Boss Mustapha – Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ifeanyi Okowa – Governor of Delta State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State, Godwin Emefiele – Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Habu Gumel – president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Captain Hosa Okunbo – representative of the presidency, Olusade Adesola – Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Muhammad Gambo – Director of Facilities in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and Solomon Dalung – former Minister of Youth and Sports.
The Super Eagles are already through to the Round of 16 with a game to spare. They have six points from two games after beating Guinea and Burundi. They are scheduled to play Madagascar later today as they seek to cement their win of the group.
Apart from Nigeria, other teams that have already qualified for the Round of 16 stage include Egypt, Morocco and Algeria.
The final of the competition will be played on July 19.
Nigeria is participating in AFCON for the first time in six years, having missed the past two editions.
The West Africans are hoping to win a fourth title in the 2019 tournament, having won it in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
