A four-man delegation of the Nigeria World Cup 2010 bid committee has been to Yaounde to explain to Fecafoot how they intend to get five countries jointly bid for the World Cup.
Led by bid committee chairman, Segun Odegbami, the Nigerians discussed with Fecafoot vice-president, Robert Penne and deputy secretary general Prince Esoka Ndoki Mukete.
Odebgami related how the idea of getting Togo, Benin, Ghana and Cameroon join Nigeria to bid for the World Cup was born and what advantages there were in winning the bid for the sub region.
“We want to have a simple and true African World Cup.
“Other countries use the World Cup as a culture jamboree or an occasion to portray their standard of living. But Africa needs the World Cup to help us develop.
“We must spread the benefits to many countries as possible. So we are looking at what could be simple and practical”.
Odegbami said the other proposed partners were enthusiastic about the idea of co-hosting the World Cup. “This sub region needs this World Cup to truly bring us together”, he said.
He said eight to ten venues were needed. So they were proposing that Nigeria gets four, one or two to Cameroon and Ghana each, while one each for Benin and Togo.
“We don’t want the World Cup to be an enormous economic burden to any of the countries, because the biggest hindrance to hosting the World Cup is the cost”.
However, Odegbami acknowledged that the challenges and difficulties ahead were great. “But the benefits outweigh the cost”.
Invitations to the youth and sports minister, Dr. Bidoung Mpkatt and Fecafoot boss, Iya Mohamed, requesting them to attend a meeting in Lagos on 14 and 15 February was left with Mr. Penne.
All sports ministers and federation presidents from the five countries concerned will be attending that meeting where they will discuss the bid in detail. It is after that meeting that Nigeria will know which countries are in or out of their idea.
Martin Etonge
