Peter Obi Cries Out in Lafia, Laments Nigeria’s Failure to Qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup

• Peter Obi was in Lafia to kick-start his presidential campaign along with his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed
• The Labour Party presidential candidate, ahead of the 2023 General Elections, decries Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup
• Obi spoke with disbelief that a nation like Nigeria, with over 200 million people, failed to qualify for the global showpiece

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has lamented Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Obi and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed began a nationwide campaign ahead of the February 2023 poll with a rally in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital in the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

The former governor of Anambra State lamented the nation's state and decried Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Super Eagles failed to fly past the Black Stars of Ghana, who secured a ticket to the global showpiece kicking off on November 20.

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Nigeria faced off with Ghana in the third and final round of the World Cup qualifiers back in May. The first leg ended 0-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The second leg of the fixture then ended 1-1 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, as Ghana qualified for the World Cup courtesy of the away goals rule.

Obi said:

"A country like Nigeria, a country of over 200 million people, did not qualify for the World Cup. With both of us, we will put money into sports, we will go to World Cup always."

Joe Aribo rues Nigeria's World Cup miss

Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has made it clear that he is still nursing the pain of Nigeria's inability to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar.

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Aribo explained that he is not happy with the fact that Nigeria will not play at this year's tournament.

“I will say probably one of my lowest moments in football, not just because we are not going to the World Cup but in the manner it happened against Ghana.

“Of course, the rivalry, so there is just a lot to take in.”

Amuneke sends message to Africa's representatives

Sports Brief earlier reported that a former Nigerian international, Emmanuel Amuneke, has advised African teams playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup to take the matches one step at a time.

The ex-Super Eagles winger, who was part of the Nigerian squad that reached the second round of the World Cup in 1994, says Africa must improve at the tournament in Qatar.

Nigeria failed to qualify for this year’s global showpiece, but the continent will be represented by AFCON champions Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, Ghana, and Tunisia.