Countdown to the second edition of the African Mini-football Nations Cup competition has begun when Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Akanran, Ibadan, will host the tournament.
The draw for the tournament, which is a prelude for the 2021 African Cup, held at during the week and was attended by representatives of 16 participating countries.
African Minifootball Competition will be contested by 16 African countries belonging to the African Minifootball Confederation (AMC) and the World Minifootball Federation (WMF).
The tournament is set to start on July 8, 2021 and the final will be held on July 17, 2021.
Speaking on the State Government’s preparedness to host the tournament, Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan assured participating countries of a conducive environment.
He said the present administration is delighted to host such competition, which would attract many benefits to the state amidst sports-tourism.
Olaniyan thanked the African Minifootball Federation and the National body governing the sports in Nigeria for deeming it fit to host the competition in Ibadan, the State capital.
The president of Africa Mini-Football Confederation, Achraf Ben Salha, has also expressed satisfaction at facilities seen within the Ilaji Sports Resort, Ibadan, venue of the confederation’s Nations Cup.
Salha, a Tunisian, who doubles as the vice President of the World Mini-Football Federation, had made an inspection tour of the facilities for the competition in Ilaji in May 2021.
He gave thumbs up to the management of Ilaji Sports Resorts for the uniqueness of the facilities on ground, adding that he noticed that all the facilities are in the same enclosure on a verse land, which would reduce stress on the players.
Also, National President, Nigeria Mini-Football Association, Hon. Oluyemi Adewale Taiwo said all hands are on the deck to ensure successful hosting of the tournament.
He pointed at the State Government’s preparedness to provide adequate security and the readiness of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Akanran to host a hitch-free continental competition.
The C.E.O, Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Akanran, Ibadan, Engr. Dotun Sanusi said his resort has fantastic World class facilities, including hostels and hotel ready for the players and officials in July, 2021.
Speaking through the institution’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Adesina Araoye, he assured the Confederation that Ilaji Hotels and Resorts is the only place that has such facilities fit for Minifootball Competition in Nigeria.
Commenting on the National Minifootball team’s readiness, the Headcoach, Babatunde Odubola said, Nigeria’s mini-football men’s national team have resumed training with 25 players already.
He said the team have conducted two training sessions already.
“Definitely, the players are coming back into the camp any time soon. We are ready to tackle the teams on our group: Senegal, Morocco and Djibouti”, he said.
Coach Odubola led the Nigeria mini-football national team to their first African Minifootball Cup in Libya in 2018, where they finished fifth.
The African Minifootball Competition, created in March 2019, is based in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, and so far has 15 national football Federations and Associations.
The Confederations Cup, which is played a year before the World Cup, will be hosted this time in Ilaji Hotels and Resorts Akanran, Ibadan.
The 2021 African Cup will feature sixteen national teams, They are, Nigeria (host nation), Senegal, Morocc, Djibout, Burkina Faso, South-Africa, Benin Republic, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Somalia, Ghana, Lydia, Gabon, Zambia and Algeria.
