The return of Nigeria’s Super Eagles to the City of Lagos for a competitive game after a 20-year absence was an overwhelming success, as the Super Eagles won the match by defeating the Crocodiles of Lesotho by three goals at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, on Tuesday.
Speaking after the historic match watched by a few thousand fans in compliance with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) directives, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he was excited, like many other Lagosians, to witness the homecoming of the darling Super Eagles as they played their AFCON qualifier at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State.
He said, “Sports is an important part of the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda for Lagos. We have invested in developing our sports infrastructure, setting forward a clear mandate and plan to ensure Lagos is the number one destination for all our Sports Teams”.
“We have supported the Super Eagles in their journey to this AFCON and I congratulate them on qualifying for the 2022 event”, the Governor added.
Also speaking about the event, the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Sola Aiyepeku said, “We must thank our Sports loving Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for giving us his support in hosting this match successfully, as well as the Management of the NFF for believing in us to host this International engagement of the Super Eagles”.
While also expressing his gratitude to the Almighty God for the hitch-free event, Aiyepeku applauded the orderly conduct and spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the few fans who were opportune to watch the encounter, where the trio of Victor Osimhen, Oghenekaro Etebo and Paul Onuachu scored for the Super Eagles.
On his part, the Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Oluwatoyin Gafaar, said now that the Super Eagles have made a victorious return to the “Centre of Excellence”, the city of Lagos is ever ready to host the senior national team in the future.
He said, “In the last few days, we have been able to show the Eagles and their officials our hospitality and more importantly that Lagos is conducive to host any international football match”.
“The vision of the State Government led by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is to make Lagos the hub of sports not only in Nigeria, but on the continent of Africa, and this is what we at the Lagos State Sports Commission are working assiduously towards achieving”, Gafaar said.
