Whither Nigeria as Morocco, Saudi host World Cup?

There is a sense in which we can claim that Morocco’s bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Portugal and Spain and Saudi Arabia’s 2034 have been remarkable for the Arab world and Africa. This opportunity presents numerous lessons for both regions, highlighting the importance of strategic partnerships, infrastructure development, and sports diplomacy. This is where Nigeria’s duty bearers who are so obsessed with politics, which often takes a lot of steam from their governance and fundamental objectives of state policies. Let us get our political leaders at all levels to note these deliverables and lessons immediately:

# Lesson 1: Strategic partnerships are key to success
Morocco’s decision to partner with Portugal and Spain demonstrates the value of strategic partnerships in achieving ambitious goals. By joining forces with neighboring countries, Morocco can leverage their collective strengths, share resources, and present a united front to the international community. A Moroccan technocrat who spoke last month at Maureen Chigbo’s Real News annual lecture in Sheraton Lagos when Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari gave a keynote showed clearly that the country (Morocco) uses its best brains to develop the country and that is one place Nigeria’s apparently arrogant leaders who celebrate mediocrity, should learn from.

# Lesson 2: Infrastructure development is crucial for growth
Hosting the World Cup requires significant investments in infrastructure, including stadiums, transportation systems, and accommodations. Morocco’s bid highlights the importance of infrastructure development in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and improving the quality of life for citizens. Can Nigerian leaders at all levels sit down in their council chambers and deeply reflect on this for their #Project 2027 obsession?

# Lesson 3: Sports diplomacy can foster international cooperation
The World Cup is a global event that brings nations together, promoting international cooperation, understanding, and peace. Morocco’s bid demonstrates the potential of sports diplomacy to foster positive relationships between countries, promote cultural exchange, and address common challenges.

# Lesson 4: Regional cooperation can drive economic integration
The Arab world and Africa can learn from Morocco’s approach to regional cooperation. By working together with even developed neighboring countries, Morocco can promote economic integration, increase trade, and attract foreign investment, ultimately driving economic growth and development.

# Lesson 5: Branding and marketing are essential for success
Morocco’s strategic bid to host the World Cup highlights the importance of branding and marketing in promoting a country’s image, culture, and tourism industry. Effective branding and marketing strategies can help Morocco showcase its unique attractions, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality to a global audience. I hope the image makers around presidential palaces in Nigeria can read this writing on the wall.

# Lesson 6: Private sector engagement is critical for development
The private sector plays a vital role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and promoting development. Morocco’s bid demonstrates the importance of engaging the private sector in large-scale projects, such as hosting the World Cup, to leverage their expertise, resources, and networks.

# Lesson 7: Human capital development is essential for competitiveness
Hosting the World Cup requires a skilled and competent workforce, including professionals in hospitality, tourism, and sports management. Morocco’s bid highlights the importance of investing in human capital development, including education, training, and capacity-building programmes, to enhance competitiveness and drive economic growth. When will our policy experts and advisers around government houses in Nigeria realise the debilitating effects of celebrating

# Lesson 8: Environmental sustainability is a key consideration
The World Cup is a high-profile event that attracts global attention, including scrutiny of environmental sustainability. Morocco’s bid demonstrates the importance of incorporating environmental considerations into large-scale projects, including reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable transportation, and conserving natural resources.

# Lesson 9: Cultural heritage preservation is vital for national identity
Morocco’s rich cultural heritage is a significant aspect of its national identity. Hosting the World Cup provides an opportunity for Morocco to showcase its unique cultural attractions, including historic sites, museums, and festivals. This highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and promoting cultural exchange to foster national pride and international understanding. Nigerian leaders at all levels need to deepen their understanding of what development of critical sports infrastructure can do to our national identity. It isn’t enough for us to be shouting every day that we are the most populous black nation on earth. What are we doing through robust investment in critical infrastructure to live up to this billing that even the iconic Madiba warned us about before he flew away in 2013. We have over-quoted Nelson Mandela here on this. He told a visiting Nigerian diplomat and senior public officer, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed in an unusual interview in South Africa: ‘The world will not respect Africa until Nigeria earns that respect. The black people of the world need Nigeria to be great as a source of pride and confidence…’ When will Nigeria earn that respect? When will Nigeria step out of its obscurity to be a source of pride and confidence to the black race through intentional development of critical infrastructure even in sports and tourism? When will even Lagos develop world-class stadiums that will attract international competitions including World Cup?

# Lesson 10: Resilience and adaptability are essential for success
Finally, Morocco’s bid to play host to the World Cup demonstrates the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of uncertainty and adversity. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to the global community, including the sports industry. Morocco’s bid shows that with determination, flexibility, and creativity, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve ambitious goals.

Here is the conclusion of the whole matter: Morocco’s bold bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Portugal and Spain and Saudi’s cultural transformation and bid to be the host in 2334 present valuable lessons for the Arab world and Africa. By embracing strategic partnerships, infrastructure development, sports diplomacy, and cultural heritage preservation, among other key considerations, Morocco and Saudi Arabia can showcase their unique attractions, promote economic growth, and foster international cooperation.

Specifically, hosting the 2034 World Cup is expected to bring significant benefits to Saudi Arabia, including enhanced global reputation, increased tourism, and economic growth. The tournament will also provide an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to showcase its culture, history, and modernization efforts to a global audience.

And so as the Arab world and Africa continue to navigate the complexities of globalisation, these lessons can serve as a blueprint for success in the 21st century. When will Nigeria wake up from too much politics, meretricious attention to serious governance issues and ‘national greed’ that has diminished its status in the new world order?

Let no one tell us here that the hosting rights have been dogged by controversy due to concerns over human rights violations, women’s rights abuses, and the criminalisation of homosexuality in Saudi Arabia. Critics are still arguing that awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia amounts to “sportswashing,” where the country uses sports to divert attention from its human rights record. The liberal western press played up the same thing about Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) before the two nations showcased to the world that western propaganda alone cannot prevent any nation from developing world-class, innovative and smart sports infrastructure.

Let’s finally look at what attracting only one influential sports figure can do to sports diplomacy. Now, consider how Cristiano Ronaldo alone fits into this picture. The Portuguese soccer star’s high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr football club in January 2023 has been seen as a strategic move to promote Saudi Arabia’s sports ambitions and improve its global image. Ronaldo’s involvement in the Saudi Pro League has been viewed as a way to “normalise” Saudi Arabia in international affairs and change perceptions about the country. Ronaldo’s comments about his move to Saudi Arabia, stating that he is “not here to win money” but to “win,” were earlier reported by the western press as an attempt to downplay the controversy surrounding his decision. Critics had then argued that Ronaldo’s involvement in Saudi Arabia’s sports scene is a form of endorsement for the country’s human rights record. They will always say that but now the result is clear as Saudi has silenced critics.  

Morocco’s superiority in soccer infrastructure over Nigeria is evident. Morocco’s state-of-the-art stadiums, training facilities, and grassroots development programmes have earned it a reputation as a soccer powerhouse. In contrast, Nigeria’s infrastructure lags behind, hindering its ability to host major tournaments like the World Cup. South Africa’s successful hosting in 2010 and Morocco’s co-hosting bid for 2030 demonstrate the importance of investing in quality infrastructure. Nigeria must prioritise infrastructure development to compete. 

Besides, Morocco has been a centre of international business. Rabat has established itself as a significant player in Africa, hosting several high-profile international conferences and meetings in the last two years.

Recent International Conferences and Meetings
World Bank Meetings
2023 Spring Meetings: Although not exclusively held in Marrakesh, Morocco, the World Bank’s 2023 Spring Meetings featured discussions on debt relief, restructuring, and sustainability for low-income countries, including those in Africa. The World Bank Group typically hosts its Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., but it’s essential to note that these meetings often feature African countries and their economic development. 2023’s was held in Morocco.

African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings: Morocco has hosted these meetings in the past, showcasing its capacity to organise large-scale international events.
– *Africa-Europe Summit*: Morocco has participated in and hosted various Africa-Europe summits, highlighting its role as a bridge between Africa and Europe. Morocco has played host to Nigerian businessmen and even wealthy men who have held various business meetings and wedding parties in Marrakesh, as reported. Where is Nigeria’s Marrakesh?

Let’s reflect on this fact: The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, is actually not the only stadium certified by FIFA for international competitions. In fact, Nigeria has several FIFA-standard stadiums, including the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, and the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. These stadiums have hosted various international football matches, including World Cup qualifiers and African Cup of Nations matches. But the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo is particularly notable for its state-of-the-art facilities and beautiful ambiance, making it a popular choice for international matches. This is so because their leaders have been developing world-class infrastructure, which will always attract the brightest and the best in the world. Why can’t other leaders in Nigeria look up to the hills in Morocco, which incidentally remain the best ranked African football team following their prefect AFCON qualifying campaign where Nigeria struggled with poor infrastructure and wobbly leadership in sports administration. Congratulations, Morocco and Saudi Arabia!