The Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, has given royal blessings to players and officials of the U-23 National Team, with a charge to win the gold at the All-Africa Games and also qualify for the Men’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympic Games.

The team led by its Head Coach, Samson Siasia, received the blessings when they paid the royal father a courtesy visit at his palace in Bauchi before their friendly game against home side Wikki Tourists Football Club.

Emir Adamu, a football enthusiast, said he does not see the team’s Olympic Games qualifying fixture against Congo as anything more than a walk-over.

Impressing it on the team that football is the only thing that unites the nation no matter the tribe or color, the Emir of Bauchi charged the players not to play with the emotions of Nigerians who expect so much from them, and said he expects them to not only excel at the All-Africa Games, but also ensure that they further their careers by playing in top clubs abroad so that at the end of the day, the nation will reclaim its number one spot in the continent.

Speaking earlier, Coach Siasia said they decided to pay the royal father a visit to not only condole with him on the death of his sister, but to also seek his blessings as they battle on several fronts to do the nation proud.

The Dream Team contingent also paid a courtesy visit to former NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in his Bauchi home, where Maigari called on Nigerians from all walks of life to banish their win-at-all-cost mentality.