Nigeria Has Many Lamine Yamal – Peter Obi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria has many Lamine Yamal in youths of the country.

17 years old Lamine Yamal led the Spain team to Euro 2024 championship, after defeating England 2-1.

Peter Obi said Nigerian youths have the exceptional football skills of Yamal but have not been given the opportunity through government policies and support to excel.

On Monday, on his X handle, Obi said football can help address youth unemployment if the federal and state governments can invest in its development.

“While watching the Euro2024 final match between Spain and England yesterday, I was impressed by the exceptional football skills of a young Spanish footballer, Lamine Yamal. At just 17, the teenage Yamal stunned the world with his impressive skills becoming the youngest goal scorer in the Euros and international football competitions, breaking Pele’s record and setting a new one that will be hard to beat.

“His achievements remind me of the immense potential of Nigerian youths, who are gifted in many ways and can achieve similar success with the right investment and support.

“As I have always maintained, leaders can invest in sports as a means of empowering our youths, pulling them out of social vices and uniting the nation in the process,” he said.

The former governor of Anambra, who said this on World Youth Skills Day, said football can serve as a means for Nigeria to earn foreign exchange. He urged the federal and state governments to prioritize investing in our youths by supporting their skills empowerment and development

“By investing in sports, we can raise an army of football stars to export to the world, earn foreign exchange, and have a large number of productively engaged youths contributing to the nation’s growth,” he added.