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2022 FIFA World Cup: Nigeria should follow Qatar example – Mouktar Mohammed
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Chairman of the FCT Football Association (FA), Mouktar Mohammed has urged Nigeria to follow the footsteps of Qatar, who have enjoyed huge economy surge and great accolades for its amazing hospitality.
Nigeria and Qatar are oil-producing countries but the latter with just three million people served the world a spectacular global football showpiece irrespective of negative reports from Western media.
On Sunday, Qatar 2022 came to an end with one of the best ever finals which was won by Argentina and the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) FA, feels Nigeria should host the FIFA World Cup to tap into the economic, political, and cultural benefits like Qataris has done.
“Qatar had the vision and Nigeria should have the vision that we can host the world. The belief is the first and we begin to plan,” Mouktar Mohammed told The Daily Trust.
South Africa became the first African nation to stage the FIFA World Cup in 2010, while the West Africa nation had hosted the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups, with the last U17 World Cup in 2009.
The former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Presidential aspirant opined that Nigeria should aspire to host the FIFA World Cup.
“We should aspire to host the world and plan for it within 10-15 years where we can promote our country, and culture as there will be economic and sporting benefits,” he continued.
“Most people know Nigeria as a football superpower. My biggest dream is to see Nigeria win the World Cup.”
When asked on his impression of the global showpiece in Qatar, Mohammed said he was most impressed with Arab’s hosting of the biggest showpiece in world football.
“From a personal point of view, I was impressed with the way Qatar hosted the world,” he remarked.
“They have set a standard for a future World Cup and for them being able to pass the insinuations, and assumptions as a lot of people didn’t know about the country and that’s the beauty of football.
“It unifies and we can promote a lot of good things through football. It was a world-class World Cup.”
Nigeria will have to wait to 2030 for any hosting dream, as USA, Mexico, and Canada are already scheduled to co-host the 2026 World Cup.
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