Kickoff (Cape Town)
24 October 2008
CAF president Issa Hayatou has expressed shock and embarrassment at Nigeria's decision to withdraw from hosting next year's FIFA Under-17 World Cup and urged the country to review this decision.
In a letter addressed to the Nigeria Football Association, Hayatou said: "I was extremely disappointed and shocked when I was informed that your national association decided to inform FIFA that your country is renouncing from hosting the U-17 FIFA World Cup which was assigned to your association in 2009.
"The decision of Nigeria to withdraw from hosting this event next year is really embarrassing not only for CAF, but for the whole African continent," Hayatou wrote.
The Nigerian government have baulked at the astronomical cost of hosting the event, which is put at around N37 billion naira and top government officials have made it clear that hosting a competition at such runaway costs, is not a federal priority.
The CAF President however, urged Nigeria to reconsider.
"We count on your wisdom to review this decision since Nigeria in its capacity as one of the football powerhouses of the African continent is one of the African countries which can make Africa proud whenever hosting world sporting events."
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When other responsible governments in the world makes such cost consideration, it is understandable because they deliver. But withdrawing from hosting this tournament at this late hour by citing huge cost considerations is irresponsible of this Yaradua government. Why? Because if they dont use the money to host this tournament, they will steal it and nothing will happen. If Obasanjo did not use that money to build the Abuja stadium, it would be stolen, and nothing will happen. Its only when something worthwhile like paying teachers salary, completing the health care centers obasanjo started in all government arears, fixing our power sector,rail system,roads etc needs to be done that government suddenly has no money. But when it is allocating 600Million for ordinary renovation of a speaker's house, they will have money.When it is increasing the senators pay 100 fold over, the government normaly finds money somehow. waziri says a governor just built a house at Abuja at 1 billion Naira, where did he get the money from? These people in government steal money from every angle and Waziri is ofcourse not serious in prosecuting them because Yaradua is not serious. Yet they have the effrontry to tell us they are withdrawing from hosting the under 17 world cup because of cost considerations. Did they not evaluate the cost before bidding for hosting right? This irresponsible act might cost us dearly if no one tells this brainless Yaradua to stop lazying arround and start doing something worthwhile. Even the discredited former rulers have one thing or the other to their name. Babangida built Abuja (and stole the rest of the money), Obasanjo payed off our debts and increased our forex reserve (and stole the rest), What could be said that this dude yaradua could achieve (while still stealing a lot of money)?
He that trusts no one can't trust himself and is not worth trusted. We are so used to corruprion that, one telling us "good morning!" makes us suspicious that he/she wants to rub us. In our minds, no one can get rich without stealing money. If you think those leaders are the worst, checkout what is happening in school politics and know who we consider leaders of tomorrow. Is it a wise decision to set your house on fire because it has been rubbed? Should we go ahead and spend such sum of money because those thieves have been stealing it. Quote me right, I am not saying that it is right to pull out of hosting the U17 at this last hour nor am I supporting those who have been looting our resources - I am only saying two wrongs don't make a right. At this time of global financial crisis, it's stupid to spend such amount of money to host an event that we are not even in the position of benefitting from when we are living in pure darkness (poor power supply), no good roads and poor aminities. Take the responsibility of giving your country a good image than this.
why is it always football this football that. i don't care if it generates a lot of media/economic attention. we have a lot of other things to do and the least of them is football. have you ever listened to other people from other sports, its not fair what is happening in the country, everyone is always thinking about football and shunning other sports. i am tired of surfing the net just to find out about how well or not so well Nigerians are fairing in other sports. besides what kinda initial budget was that anyway, couldn't the organisers do their homework.
It points to what we've been saying that no good can come from bad! Yaradua is illegitimate, neither was he elected, he was forced on the collective will of Nigerians why will he care whether he embarrasses the nation or not. This are self centred individual who have no vision but to ensure the money in government coffers are emptied before they leave. I mean, this world cup is costing us less than half a billion dollars which one of these past rulers can bank role with their ill-gotten wealth! No one should foul us Government can afford this amount comfortably, financial crises or no crises!