Super Eagles Are Battle Ready-Says All Sports Supporters Club Deputy President
4 min read
By Sportsgister
Alhaji Jimoh Musiliu Alao is a seasoned football administrator, grassroots developer and passionate supporter of Nigerian football.
As the Chairman of Emiloju Football Club and Deputy President of the All Sports Supporters Club, he has remained deeply involved in the game from the grassroots to the international stage.
In this interview with Abdul Momoh, he shares insights on his journey into sports, his AFCON 2025 experience in Morocco, the Super Eagles’ readiness, Nigeria’s football administration, and the steady rise of Emiloju FC.
Can we meet you Sir?
”My name is Alhaji Jimoh Musiliu Alao, Chairman of Emiloju Football Club and Deputy President All Sports Supporters Club”
Briefly tell us how you found yourself into sports?
”I schooled in the Federal Polytechnics Offa after I graduated from Army Children School, Iwo road and I also attended Saint Patrick Grammer School Bashorun. I began my sporting career as a football player in my primary, secondary and in the higher institution days. While the federal polytechnics Offa, I was the goalkeeper of my department and the third goalie of the school team. So my interest in football was way back and my parents supported me wholeheartedly, when I traveled for trials I didn’t make the team so I returned to work for PHCN at the time. My interest in football led me to join the super eagles supporters club in Ibadan. I established Emiloju football club when I got to Lagos”
You were at the opening ceremony of the African Nations Cup in Rabat, Morocco tell us briefly about your experience?
”Morocco is a country that is really serious about football, I have been to a couple of nations cup but what is happening here is different and an improvement to what we witnessed in Cameroon and Ivory Coast. The people are friendly, the facilities, logistics and transportation arrangements are top notch, and the turnout has been impressive because they made it easy for people to get visas”
Tell us about the food and weather condition over there
”There are African restaurants here serving dishes like jollof rice and it a little expensive, but local foods like Amala aren’t available here. The whether here is harsh, the cold is so much. And accommodation is affordable”
In your own opinion, how ready are the Super Eagles of Nigeria?
”I think they are battle ready, the executives of the All Sports Supporters Club are all here. We are waiting for the band boys to join us very before the second match”
What’s the situation at the Eagles’ camp?
”Since I got here they have been training twice (morning and evening). The Boys are focused and ready for victory”
As a stakeholder in Nigerian football, how can you assess our football administration?
”People perceive football like any other business, but I think the game should be handled differently. I think the NFF are doing their best, we should understand that there are off days and we can’t have it rossy always. If players don’t perform we shouldn’t vent our anger on the management all the time. See what happened in the playoff, we played for ninety minutes and the score was 1-1 but it ended 3-1 after an additional thirty minutes that is football for you. I believe if Osimhen wasn’t injured in our last match we would have made it to the world cup easily”
What’s your take on how we crashed out of the world cup qualifier playoffs?
”Like I said earlier, nobody is happy. We were all optimistic that DR Congo will be defeated because of what we did to Benin Republic and Gabon”
Do you share the opinion of our coach that DR Congo used juju?
”The coach can bring any excuse, when you do well people will praise you but when things go wrong they’ll want you to say something. For me, Osimhen’s injury scattered our game plan. I don’t believe in juju, I believe in prayers”
What’s your message to Nigerians on our world cup miss?
”Nigerians love football, it is part of our culture. Nigerians should keep faith with the national team. The Boys are ready to make Nigerians happy in this AFCON”
Your team Emiloju FC is waxing stronger, what’s the secret?
”Emiloju FC is a grassroots team, we just won a tournament with a fourteen million naira prize. Fifty teams registered and we were divided into two groups, we emerged from our group after playing twenty four teams and defeated the winner of the second group to claim the champions prize. We have good and young players, our secret is prayer that’s what we believe in”
A lot of people see you as a transparent and honest individual, how true?
”That’s the way I was raised by my parents. You can’t be perfect, but just do your best even when people misjudge your actions or intention “
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
