Abuja (Nigeria), Dec 30 (IANS): Nigeria's squash champion Sodiq Taiwo urged stakeholders to make grassroots development of the sport a topmost priority in Africa's most populous country.

Taiwo, currently ranked the number one squash player in Nigeria, said the sport would develop more in the country if the leaders did what they were supposed to do to make it grow, reports Xinhua.

"It is so unfortunate that squash is being neglected; it is sad because more youngsters need the exposure," he told reporters in the southwestern state of Lagos Monday, adding at this juncture, stakeholders in Nigeria need a viable grassroots programme to keep these young talents actively engaged.

The player urged the local squash federation to take the necessary steps that would place squash where it rightly belongs in the West African country.

"The federation has a lot to do. I am sure that they are aware of the task ahead so that the rejected stone will be a cornerstone. I strongly believe that the fortune of squash will change if our leaders do things as they should," he said.