The Lagos State Government have intensified preparations towards hosting the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a special dinner on Tuesday night, hours before jetting off to Abidjan ahead of their campaign at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations starting this weekend in Ivory Coast, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
Meanwhile, José Peseiro and the 25-man squad, as well as their officials will arrive in Lagos aboard a chartered aircraft on Tuesday evening from their Abu Dhabi training base, United Arab Emirates will be welcomed by fellow Nigerians and well-wishers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
While at the dinner, the three-time African champions will be in the conglomerate of dignitaries with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu as the chief host, while the Minister for Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh will co-host, to which Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa State) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) have all been invited to the glamour event.
According to Complete Sports, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is said to be the host, with top officials of the Lagos State Government, a couple of parliamentarians, NFF Executive Committee members, representatives of NFF’s corporate partners and sponsors, few members of NFF Management, Chairman and Board of the Lagos State Football Association, respected football investor Hon. Kunle Soname, former Nigeria international and captain Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, leading artistes, top celebrities and influencers also to attend.
The NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Monday morning expressed the heartfelt appreciation of the Football Federation to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration for their magnanimity.
“The NFF and the Nigeria Football fraternity are grateful to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration for agreeing to host the team to the Send Forth ceremony. It is an occasion to tell the players how much Nigerians will be supporting them at the Africa Cup of Nations Championship.
“The Honourable Minister of Sports Development will deliver a message from Mr. President. We believe that the event, anchored on the Let’s Do It Again theme, will galvanise the team to go for a fourth continental title in Cote d’Ivoire,” Gusau said.
The Nigeria contingent to this year’s AFCON tournament will depart Lagos on Wednesday morning for the 80-minute flight to Abidjan, where the team will compete in Group A against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau in their quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title. While, the delegation is said to be led by Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa.