The AAC presidential candidate says Nigeria can become a global sports hub by investing in infrastructure, talent and competent sports management

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore made a bold World Cup promise in Enugu on Saturday, August 29, 2026, pledging that Nigeria would qualify for every FIFA World Cup during his proposed eight-year presidency if elected in 2027.

Also read: Sowore urges Nigeria customs to turn cannabis into an economic opportunity

Sowore made the commitment after taking part in the 10-kilometre race at the 2026 Enugu City International Marathon, where he returned for the second consecutive edition of the event and used the occasion to outline a broader vision for Nigerian sports.

The Enugu City International Marathon, held on August 29, featured both a 42-kilometre elite marathon and a 10-kilometre road race. The event is designed to promote athletic excellence, healthy living, tourism and community engagement while positioning Enugu as an international sports destination. (enugucitymarathon.com)

Sowore said his return to the race was influenced by his positive experience at the inaugural edition.

“Well, I came back because I was impressed with the first one and I have seen so far that the organisation is impressive,” he said.

Beyond his own participation, Sowore used the race to argue that Nigeria should take sports more seriously, describing road races as useful platforms for promoting healthy living, youth engagement and stronger communities.

He urged states across the country to organise similar events, arguing that regular sporting activities could create opportunities for young people while strengthening the connection between sport, culture and local economies.

Sowore was also careful to distinguish the event’s 10-kilometre race from a full marathon. He noted that a standard marathon covers 42 kilometres, while a half marathon is 21 kilometres.

For Sowore, however, the significance of the event extended far beyond the distance covered by the runners.

He described sports as part of what he called the “orange economy”, arguing that a properly developed sports industry could become a powerful source of jobs, investment and foreign exchange.

“Most importantly, this is how to build young people to be global ambassadors of your country. There’s a big economy out there that is known as the sports economy.

We call it the orange economy. It’s an economic model that, if well developed, can bring more money than oil,” he said.

The AAC candidate pointed to Brazil and Kenya as examples of countries that have built international recognition and economic opportunities around their sporting strengths.

He questioned why Nigeria, with its large population and established athletic talent, has not achieved comparable success in long-distance running.

“Nigeria has 200 million people. I don’t know why we are not beating Kenya in all the long-distance races,” Sowore said.

His argument was reinforced by the results of the Enugu race itself, where athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia dominated the leading positions in the 42-kilometre men’s and women’s categories.

Kenya’s Koros Ken had won the men’s 42-kilometre race at the inaugural 2025 edition, collecting a $15,000 prize. (Premium Times Nigeria)

Sowore said a government led by him would therefore look beyond football and build infrastructure capable of supporting athletes in different disciplines.

“Nigeria will become a major sports hub for the world. It doesn’t matter which sports you are doing. I’m a swimmer too, by the way,” he said.

He added that Nigeria’s potential in swimming and athletics remained largely untapped.

“I come from the Niger Delta region. I don’t know why we are not winning swimming medals. We have great runners,” Sowore said.

His most politically striking pledge, however, concerned football.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending its participation in the tournament after the Super Eagles finished outside the qualification places.

The setback has remained a sensitive subject in discussions about the country’s football administration and sporting leadership.

Against that backdrop, Sowore criticised the management of Nigerian football and argued that the country’s failure was not a reflection of a shortage of talent.

“We are supposed to be at the World Cup. If I’m president of Nigeria, we are not missing any World Cup for my eight years. I’ll make sure that happens,” he said.

“This is because we get the best and the most competent and we will provide the environment for sports to thrive in this country.”

Sowore’s World Cup promise forms part of a wider campaign argument that Nigeria’s sporting fortunes can be improved through competent administration, better infrastructure and sustained investment in athletes.

His proposal also comes at a time when the government has been facing renewed pressure over the management of Nigerian football.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently directed the Nigeria Football Federation’s technical leadership to step aside following a difficult campaign, adding to an ongoing debate over how the country’s football structures should be managed.

Sowore’s approach is broader, however, as he wants Nigeria to reduce its traditional focus on football and develop disciplines such as athletics and swimming, alongside other sports capable of producing international success.

The Enugu event itself reflects the type of sports-tourism model he described. Organisers say the marathon is intended not only as an athletic competition but also as a vehicle for tourism, economic development and community participation.

The 2026 edition brought elite athletes, recreational runners and spectators together in the Coal City. (enugucitymarathon.com)

For Sowore, the larger ambition is to turn such events into a regular feature of Nigeria’s economic and social landscape.

Whether the proposed World Cup guarantee can be achieved would ultimately depend on factors beyond presidential control, including football administration, player development, coaching, international qualification structures and performances on the pitch.

What Sowore is promising, however, is a government that would attempt to influence those factors through what he describes as competent management and an enabling environment.

His appearance in Enugu consequently offered more than a campaign stop.

It provided an unusually personal backdrop for his sports agenda, with the presidential candidate himself joining thousands of runners on the streets of the city.

Also read: Sowore replies Davido: Your uncle, Gov. Adeleke is arindin

As Nigeria heads towards the 2027 election, Sowore is positioning sports not merely as entertainment but as a potential economic engine and a route to giving young Nigerians greater opportunities at home and on the international stage.