The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pledge to replicate the football model in Morocco if elected as president in 2023.

Atiku pledged to build football pitches in public places as he ascribed the success of Moroccans in the ongoing World Cup in Qatar to it.

Morocco on Saturday defeated Portugal to become the first African country to reach a World Cup semi-final

Speaking during Channels Television Peoples Townhall, Atiku said, “What is found in Morocco is that they have provided football playing fields in almost every neighbourhood. In every neighbourhood you go to in Morocco, small villages, towns, and cities, you find that that they have provided public football playing fields.

“You will see as young as primary school children playing football early in the morning before they go to school and later in the evening when they return from school, I think we have to encourage that,” Atiku said on Sunday during Channels Television Peoples Townhall.

He assured that he will encourage private sectors to invest in sports rather than leaving it only for the government.

The former vice president also said, that all levels of government would be encouraged to be part of sports development, adding that with that the federal government will make sure they support sub-national governments in providing sporting facilities in public places and as well as institutions.