The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has said that its support for the Aisha Buhari Cup is part of an overall plan for sports development in Nigeria and not a personal donation from the Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare.
This, according to a statement by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, is to correct the erronous reports in some parts of the media that the Minister is giving out his personal money for the competition.
“The impression that the Sports Minister made a personal donation is totally false, misleading and mischievous,” the statement reads.
“Rather it is the Ministry that is supporting the competition through a budgetary head of Sports Development. This is a key part of our overall plan for sports development in Nigeria. As a Ministry, we will always be in the forefront of any project that brings opportunities for the growth and development of sports, support for female football inclusive. This is what the Aisha Buhari Cup represents and much more.”
The statement further explained that the Ministry is contributing to women football development as part of its commitment to the growth of the women’s football in Africa generally and Nigeria specifically.
The maiden Aisha Buhari Cup, an international invitational tournament will be taking place in Lagos later this month.
Hosts Nigeria and five other women football powerhouses on the African continent- Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Morocco and Cameroon will be part of the inaugural edition.