Scores of Badagry residents on Sunday trooped to the town’s viewing centre provided by the Lagos State Government, to watch Nigeria’s 0-1 loss to Tunisia in the ongoing AFCON in Cameroon.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility was located at the Local Authority Primary School, Ajara, Badagry.
It is one of the 10 free viewing centres set up by the state government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission.
A former Supervisor for Tourism and Environment, Badagry Local Government, Samson Nunayon, lauded the state government for providing the facility.
“The provision of the viewing centre is a good initiative and one of the best things to have ever happened in Badagry.
“This is another avenue for all the residents of the town to interact, away from the traditional tourism activities.
“From this viewing centre, we have been able to see the other side of Badagry residents that they are also passionate about sports. We need to add sports tourism to the programmes in the town.
“I want to give it to the Lagos State Government for bringing our youths together to watch the competition.”
He described sports as a unifying and universal language understood by the youth.
According to Chief Hunno Akofon of Badagry, the viewing centre has been able to attract all categories of people out of their homes.
“The opportunity this viewing centre has provided is enormous because we have witnessed people from all walks of life gathered here to watch the AFCON matches.
“It is not that we cannot watch the matches in our different homes, but coming out to watch live matches like this has its own impact,” he said.
A football enthusiast and founder, RAK Foundation, Mobolaji Ogunlende, noted that the facility had brought a positive impact on the community.
“This viewing centre has a lot of positive impact on the Badagry residents and we thank the Lagos State Government for it.
“It has attracted both social and economic activities to this community because so many people from other places are gathered here.
“I am here to also complement the state government’s efforts, by providing free refreshments to the people while watching the matches.
“The government cannot do it alone, so, on our part, this is our little contribution to further thank the government for the facility,” Ogunlende said.
However, in a twist of fate, the Super Eagles 0-1 loss to the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia did not go down well with the fans who expressed their disappointment in separate interviews with NAN in Badagry.
A distraught 65-year-old Salawu Bonu blamed the loss on what he described as too much interference with the team by different individuals.
“I think the team had too many visitors before the match, different people with promises on what they will give the team if they won their matches.
“It is good that they motivate them, but constant visits to the camp can also distract the players ,” he said.
NAN reports that the COVID-19 -depleted Carthage Eagles of Tunisia clipped the wings of the 10-man Super Eagles and pushed them out of the competition, courtesy Yousef Msakini’s 46th minute goal.
His 25- yard low drive was parried into his own net by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye.
Everton of England forward and substitute, Alex Iwobi, was sent off for an offence adjudged as a foul on Msakini by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). (NAN)
