By The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has expressed concern over the poor state of football pitches in Nigeria, revealing that only one stadium in the country currently meets the standards to host grade ‘A’ matches. Gusau made this remark on Tuesday after accompanying Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
The NFF President praised the quality of the renovation efforts, commending Governor Alia for his commitment to revamping the stadium. “I am very impressed with what I am seeing. As it stands, only the Uyo stadium is capable of hosting Super Eagles matches, and this has been a growing concern for me and many Nigerians,” Gusau said.
NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau.
He further stated that when he learned of the governor’s decision to upgrade the facilities at Aper Aku Stadium, he quickly visited to explore how the NFF could offer support. He expressed optimism that Makurdi could become an alternative venue for Super Eagles matches, noting, “With the governor’s dedication, I am confident this dream will be achieved, and the NFF will fully support him in making it happen.”
On grassroots football development, Gusau reiterated his campaign promise to revitalize football at the grassroots level. He highlighted the importance of organizing Under-15 and Under-17 Governor’s Cup competitions across the country, including in Benue State, as a way to discover young talents. “Tournaments like these are essential for identifying local talent, and we want teams like Lobi Stars to source players locally instead of looking elsewhere,” he added.
Governor Alia, in response, expressed his gratitude to the NFF President for the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to the project. He emphasized that football and sports play a crucial role in uniting Nigerians and boosting the local economy. “Sports bring people together, and there are economic benefits as well. I’m excited about this partnership with the NFF and am committed to ensuring the stadium meets the required standards,” he said.
The contractor overseeing the project, Ezekiel Egbe, promised to complete the work on schedule and revealed that the grass being used for the stadium pitch is of the highest quality, never before used in Africa. Egbe also commended Governor Alia for his close attention to the project, noting that the governor had visited the site six times in a short period.
