Bulgaria mulls another sports cooperation with Nigeria,  says Envoy 

The Bulgarian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yanko Yardanov, says the country plans to initiate another sports partnership with Nigeria for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Yardanov said this when he spoke at a forum in Abuja.

He said that although the country used to have a sports cooperation with Nigeria, it was halted after the 1994 FIFA World Cup in U.S.

According to him, sports programme stopped because Nigeria became better than we were, so we decided to somehow redirect our coaches somewhere else.

“So what is needed was a wakeup call for this kind of specific cooperation which I’m sure there will beyond soon , a cooperation in terms of sports between Nigeria and Bulgaria.

“On a more serious basis, sports also play a critical role almost similar to what the media is doing in the society so those are critical things that definitely need to be there for our cooperation to be sustainable.

“When it comes to the Bulgaria-Nigeria, every ordinary Nigerian and every ordinary Bulgarian will remember the game at the World Cup in1994 Nigerians remember this because it’s their first win at the World Cup.

“We remember this because it was a wakeup call for us after we occupied the 4th position at this World Cup,” he said.

He added that he was optimistic that the next World Cup in U.S, Bulgaria would play a game with Nigeria.

“I believe that the next World Cup in U.S, we will be playing together with Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking on the 2023 general election, he described Nigerians as wise people who always make the right decision at the right time.

“One thing is very clear to me in the last 15 months since I arrived, Nigerians are very wise people so you don’t need my advice regarding the election.

“Also am sure that Nigeria is always making the right choice and of course the international community is here to help once requested.

“Bulgaria respects Nigeria a lot and I’m sure that whichever outcome this election has, we will keep cooperating and building a sustainable partnership.

“Am sure that there will be a lot of things to happen before and after the election between Bulgaria and Nigeria and we will be very proud to represent Bulgaria in Nigeria,” he said.