Nigeria targets to host 2018 World Cup: Nigerian President
Nigeria will support South Africa's 2010 World Cup bid and go all out for the 2018 edition itself, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said Monday in Abuja.

Receiving Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in the capital Abuja, Obasanjo said that Nigeria would support South Africa in its bid to host the 2010 edition of the World Cup.

He said that Nigeria would also not go for the 2014 edition butwould strive toward the 2018 edition. "So long as I live, I will strive to ensure that Nigeria asks for 2018."

The president thanked Rogge for his support for Nigeria and called for assistance from the IOC in the maintenance of the new Abuja stadium "to keep it in good shape at all times."

He said that the Nigerian federal government would build new hostels and an institute of sports in Abuja to boost sports development in the country.

Responding, Rogge commended Nigeria's hosting of the 8th All Africa Games, saying the facilities put in place were of high standard while the opening ceremonies were "simply fantastic."

He pledged the continued support of the IOC to the country to help it develop more in the sporting arena.

Earlier, President of the Nigeria Olympic committee Alhaji Abu Gumel had commended the IOC for its support for Nigeria's hosting of the All Africa Games.

The IOC had assisted COJA with 200,000 US dollars for the preparations and also dished out another 79,000 dollars to Team Nigeria to aid its preparation.

We have a lot of work to do if this is the case.

@Topic

Lol