MIAMI, USA – E don drop! The 2023 Club World Cup wey dey gather the biggest football clubs for the world don finally land for Miami. But wetin jump Nigeria for this matter be say na Saudi Arabia paddy wey dey fund this whole shindig dem dey call competition! As Real Madrid don land for America with their fresh signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, e be like say Saudi Arabia don carry this event for their back like big jollof pot.
We sabi say FIFA dey try arrange this new bigger Club World Cup with about 32 teams, but them still face wahala. Ticket sales dey look like wetin we go chop for New Year – not plenty! E be like say fans no dey interested to come watch all the big names. Dem don even call am ‘global competition’ but to wetin we dey see, you fit say na just another way to wash their dirty linen.
Several critics dey talk say as Saudi Arabia don put $1 billion for the tournament, e fit affect the local leagues. How you wan make competition fair when big money dey fly everywhere? This competition dey promise prize money of $125.8 million, and you go no blame teams wey dey think say na dey way to go jam their league position. E go make sense if we fit balance am small before e turn to arm-wrestling match!
Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s club wey dey compete, self don show us say dem dey serious. Dem get serious backing from Public Investment Fund (PIF) – like say dem plan this whole with big money and even bigger ambition. Wetin be the gisting here be say even FIFA don welcome Saudi as one of their sponsors, and dem dey brag say football go global.
But we fit no ignore all the wahala wey dey follow. The fans no dey come outside, rumors go round say the ticket sales no dey impressive. Even Messi dey come play, e still no boost the market. Wetin dey happen? Dem argue say rise in Saudi investment go bring football to the forefront in the kingdom, but critics dey wonder if na just PR move or real growth.
And make we no forget the environmental aspects too! Some dey shout say this new Club World Cup don dey too much, from 7 matches to 63 matches – na alternative reality we dey talk so! We kon wonder if e go fit put small pressure on players wey don dey at breaking point from all the competitions dem dey face now. Players union don raise hand, ‘Abeg, make una take am easy!’
As we dey gree say things fit change if everybody cooperate, FIFA and Saudi don show say dem get each other back wey una no fit underestimate. But wetin go happen when dem try add more teams or when the money start to kolobi from players’ pockets? Only time go tell. For now, make we just sit down, sip our palm wine and watch how dis drama go unfold!
