Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has promised to win the FIFA World Cup for Nigeria in 2026 if he is elected President in the 2023 general elections.
The sports-loving former Governor of Abia State, who masterminded Enyimba’s triumphs in the African Champions League in 2003 and 2004, made this promise on Sunday on Channel Sports anchored by Fred Ochonogor.
While carpeting the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF Board over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Kalu recalled making and fulfilling the same promise before he became Governor of Abia State, with the state-owned club winning the elusive trophy for Nigeria back to back.
He said: “As you are aware, I want to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so I urge Nigerians to vote for me, and I will win the World Cup for the country in 2026 no matter where it’s played.
“I am very serious about this. Make me president and I will win the cup for Nigeria.
I made the same promise to win the then elusive CAF Championseague for Nigeria before I became Governor of Abia State, and I fulfilled it when I became Governor by making Enyimba win it on two consecutive occasions. Aside from being the only Nigerian club to have won the trophy, they also won it back-to-back and could have won it a third time.
“Concerning Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, I think the NFF should resign because I know the federal government cannot sack the board because of the punishments FIFA could meddle in, but I expect Pinnick and his board to resign honourably. We have not achieved anything in football in the last five years, and there is no hope that things will get better under the current board.
“Against Ghana, I saw a crop of individual talents, but there was no team and there is no way the team could have qualified for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. “
Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District and also serves as the Chief Whip of the Senate, has since made known his intention to vie for the country’s number one seat under the platform of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress.