Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cameroon, Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin yesterday stepped up moves mobilizing among 5 million resident Nigerians in Cameroon to troop out and support the Super Eagles in tomorrow’s crucial second leg 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers match against the Central Africa Republic (CAR) in Douala tomorrow.
The Daily Spokesman has gathered that a committee he raised to shore up support for Nigeria’s national team in the 2021 AFCON tournament in Cameroon has gone far mobilizing as many supporters ad possible.
The team, it was reliably learnt, has overtly and covertly enlisted the participation of different segments of the Nigerian community in Cameroon towards the success of the crucial assignment.
According to a member of the committee who spoke to this newspaper, Ambassador Olonisakin, Nigeria’s immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has declared to them that the assignment should be conducted as war in which nothing is left to chance.
“This is an equivalent of a war which the retired general has declared against the CAR in this crucial match. The Ambassador has galvanized the committee to reach out to every segment of the huge Nigerian community in Cameroon estimated at over 5 million people consisting business men, ethnic and cultural groups and students.
“He is also indeed relying on the immense good will which he has garnered since he arrived in Cameroon especially during his recent 5-day tour of the country and the 61st Nigeria Independence Day celebrations. What also makes it more strategic is the involvement of his wife, Omobolanle, who has reached out to the women wing of the Nigerian community to mobilize women’s support”, he said.
Nigeria had last Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos suffered a shocking 1-0 home defeat against the Central African Republic. It was her first loss at home in a World Cup qualifier since October 1981 when they were beaten 2-0 by Algeria in front of 80,000 fans in Lagos.
The results leave Nigeria top of Group C with six points from three matches, while the Central African Republic and Cape Verde both have four points with Liberia on three.
Nigeria has a chance for revenge on Sunday when they play CAR neutral Cameroon considered a neutral ground while Cape Verde host Liberia on the same day.
it will be recalled that Ambassador Olonisakin while addressing guests at a ceremony organized by the High Commission in Cameroon, stressed that Nigerians living in Cameroon will come out en-masse to support the Super Eagles in Douala on Sunday.
“It is not over for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, we are top of the group and we believe we are qualifying from the group. We are going to come out in large numbers to give total support to the team in Douala. As I said, Cameroon is Nigeria’s second home and we are going to be at the stadium with thousands of Nigerians living in the host country.
“The Nigerian community, the stakeholders and every Nigerians living in Cameroon would sing the national anthem and embrace the team with motivational chants to ensure victory against Central Africa.
“Victory is sure for Nigeria in Cameroon irrespective of the last result. It was an unfortunate loss but we are behind the team and we will give them maximum support”.
“The Nations Cup is coming next year, and the Super Eagles of Nigeria needs total support. We should make the country more comfortable for them and elevate them for success as the giant of Africa”, he said.
