Amid growing reports that world soccer’s governing body FIFA may withdraw the hosting rights for the 2009 Under-17 World Cup from Nigeria over alleged lack of preparedness, the country’s authorities ha ve assured that the country is ready to host a successful competition.
The local press have been awash with reports that FIFA had put Mexico on standby over Nigeria’s inability to meet some key deadlines over facilities for the 24 Oct-15 Nov. competition.
Speculations over Nigeria’s ill-preparedness have been strengthened by FIFA official Jack Warner, who reportedly advised Nigeria to learn from Egypt, which is hosting the current FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
But Sports Minister Sani Ndanusa said Nigeria would deliver the best Under-17 World Cup hosting ever.
He told officials of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the championship in the capital city of Abuja Wednesday that the country would overcome the few challenges being experienced at some of the venues.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup will mark the second of three FIFA tournaments to be held in Africa in 2009 and 2010.
The first is the current FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, and the third and last will be the FIFA World Cup, to be staged in South Africa next year.