The first of the two batches of the 300 members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil would depart on Friday aboard Ethiopian Airline.
The President-General of the club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos at a joint prayer session for the success of the Super Eagles at the World Cup.
The Christian and Muslim joint prayer session was held at the National Stadium, Lagos with members of the club in attendance.
Oladipo said that the second batch would leave on Saturday and would later be joined by 500 members in the Diaspora.
The president-general said that he and the Secretary-General of the club, Rev. Samuel Ikpea, were in Brazil last month and had mobilised Nigerians there to give support to the Eagles.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan and Globacom, a telecommunication company, for their unflinching support to the supporters club.
“President Jonathan and Globacom have given so much support and encouragement to the club that they deserve standing ovation,” he said.
Oladipo, who expressed confidence that the Eagles would excel at the Mundial, urged Nigerians not to dismiss the senior national team based on the outcome of its friendly matches.
He said: “Eagles will soar at the World Cup.
“Nigerians should not condemn or lose hope in the team judging from its preparatory friendly matches.
“The Eagles drew 2-2 with Scotland, goalless with Greece and lost 1-2 to the US, but the loss should not be a yardstick to condemn the team.
“Nigerians should continue to support and pray for the success of the team in the World Cup.
“We, members of the supporters club, believe in God and the efficacy of prayer.
“That is the reason why we organised this joint prayer session of Christians and Muslims for the success of the team at the World Cup.”
According to Oladipo, the Super Eagles, with Nigerians support, will perform better than it did in the US in 1994.
He urged the Nigerian media to give favourable reports in support of the Eagles, saying it would ginger their performance at the World Cup.
Oladipo also commended the media for supporting the supporters club.
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