2018 World cup: It is do-or-die Dalung warns Nigeria's opponents.

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By Bunmi Blair.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria must justify the government's huge investment in football at the 2018 world cup.

Nigeria's minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalung made the declaration while responding to questions from newsmen, after he failed in his bid to defend the ministry's 2018 budget before Nigeria's legislators.

Solomon Dalung

Dalung had on Tuesday in Abuja, appeared before Nigeria's house committee on sports to defend his ministry's 2018 budget proposal. He was however told the committee needed more time to study the budget.

When asked if some Nigerians were right to demand that the Super Eagles win the 2018 world cup, Dalung said those Nigerians were speaking the mind of the government.

“Nigerians are expressing the mind of the government. The world cup is a do-or-die affair to this government.”
“We are going as contenders. Some so many people took us as mere jokers when we started the campaign, but we qualified in a very unique way and that has sent signals.”
“Our win against Argentina also sent a very strong message to the world that the Nigeria team is a team to watch out for in Russia 2018," the controversial administrator said.

Nigeria had in November 2017 defeated Argentina 4-2 in a friendly game played before the world cup draw was conducted.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria was eventually drawn in group D of the FIFA 2018 world cup alongside Croatia, Iceland, and Argentina.

Super Eagles Players
Dalung had late last year revealed that the Super Eagles will need at least 3billion naira to prepare and compete favorably at the 2018 world cup, an investment he says the the team must now justify.
The Plateau state born administrator also assured that the Abuja National stadium will be ready to host the Nigeria/DR Congo friendly game in May.
“As am talking to you, work is already ongoing on the pitch. I think we will be able to deliver on time.”
“Based on the timeline we gave the contractor, the pitch will be ready in May,” Dalung assured.

The match is one of the six friendly games lined up to prepare the Super Eagles for Russia 2018.



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