The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it would grant financial subsidy of $500,000 (about N175 million) to all five African representatives at the forthcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The continental football governing body said the decision was taken by its Executive Committee and other stakeholders on the sidelines of the 2018 FIFA World Cup draws in Moscow on Friday.
“At its last meeting held on Nov. 16 in Rabat, Morocco the CAF Executive Committee decided to set up an ad hoc committee chaired by the CAF First Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi.
“The committee was told to map out a kind of support to be provided to African representatives to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
“The committee, which has CAF Executive Committee member Kalusha Bwalya and presidents of the Football Associations of the five qualified countries as members, met in Moscow, Russia on the sidelines of Friday’s draw for the FIFA World Cup finals.
“At the meeting, it was decided that CAF will grant a financial subsidy of $500,000 to each of the five African teams.
“The financial package will be used mainly to strengthen and improve the technical supervision of each team.
“In addition, CAF will provide each African representative with `fieldwiz’ equipment, a technological device and physical performance measuring tool for outdoor team sports players,” the continental football body said in a statement on Friday.
The five African representatives at the FIFA World Cup in Russia are Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal.
Some Nigerians living in South Africa are optimistic that the Super Eagles will qualify from their group during the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Saliu Habib Miller, Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Union, South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pretoria, South Africa, that there was nothing to fear about the group.
“We have a good team, well managed by Gernot Rohr. Remember, we recently won Argentina in an international friendly and we did well in that match,” he said.
Miller said that Nigeria could stand on their own against Croatia and Iceland.
“The matches in our group will be tough, but for me, there is nothing to fear. I am optimistic that we can survive the group and go beyond the second round,” he said.
Chima Umealo, President Abia Union, South Africa, said Nigeria can survive the “group of death” during the World Cup.
“It is on record that Nigeria won the first FIFA U-17 World Cup, became the first African country to win a gold medal in football at the Olympic Games.
“Therefore, it is possible that the team can go places in the World Cup,” he said.
Trust Owoyele, Welfare Officer of Nigeria Union, expressed similar sentiments, saying that the Eagles should take every match as they come.
“There is nothing to fear. We have a good team that can stand on their own. But my advice to them is not to underrate any team,” he said.
