The Oyo State government has commenced mobilisation ahead of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, Qualifier match between the U23 national team and Tanzania in Ibadan on Saturday.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Seun Fakorede, made the disclosure during a news conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre, Iyaganku, in Ibadan.
The second leg of the tie between the Dream Team and their Tanzanian counterparts will hold at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex.
The two teams had played a 1-1 draw during the first leg of the match held in Dar es Salam, the capital of Tanzania.
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Fakorede said the media engagement was very important due to the international match which happened last in the city 23 years ago.
The commissioner called on all football-loving citizens to come out enmasse to witness the epoch making event and overwhelmingly support the U23 Olympic team to victory.
“We, therefore call on all football-loving citizens to come enmasse to witness the epoch making event and give our darling U23 Olympic team an overwhelming and arousing support to victory,” he said.
Fakorede said part of government effort was to give the iconic Lekan Salami Sports Complex a beautiful facelift after 44 years of neglect and abandonment by previous administrations, stating that the newly renovated stadium would also open up new opportunities for the people to generate money and enhance value.
He said, “We are here this afternoon to witness yet another milestone in the annals of the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration in the state.
“This administration thus far has achieved the unprecedented remodeling of the stadium to an enviable world class international standard.”
The commissioner added that the state would on Saturday witness another record breaking achievement of the administration through the hosting of the U23 AFCON qualifying match, noting that it was a thing of joy that Ibadan was hosting an international game again after over 20 years of dearth of international engagements on the soil of Lekan Salami Sports Complex.
Fakorede charged those coming to watch the match to cooperate with the match officials, urging them to demonstrate patriotism and understanding before, during and after the match.
He said such would enable the state to host more international competitions while soliciting more cooperations and objectivity from journalists in the state.
He further hinted that the state would also host the second leg of a friendly match the U23 team would play against Costa Rica in November, saying the first leg would hold in the US.
Fakorede disclosed that adequate security had been put in place for a rancour-free match, while accreditation would be handled by the FA in conjunction with Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
The chairman of the State Football Association, FA, James Odeniran, appreciated Governor Makinde for giving the state a stadium that could be compared with any across the world.
He also lauded the commissioner for creating enabling environment for the CAF delegation which accredited the stadium for international matches.
“We are looking beyond the hosting of this first international match. Our efforts and performance would help to encourage further patronage of this stadium.
“The essence of the news conference is to solicit the support of our media houses and the public for the victory of our darling U23 National team,” he said.
Also speaking at the press conference, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State Council, Ademola Babalola commended the governor for giving the stadium a facelift which he said had started attracting international matches to the state.
Babalola, who highlighted the various opportunities and benefits inherent in the facelift, assured the government of maximum support from journalists in the state.
