May 19, (THEWILL) – The MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja has been deemed unfit by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for Nigeria’s remaining African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
CAF, instead, has approved the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, as the venue for the upcoming matches. The decision came after the sorry state of the playing pitch at the Abuja national stadium became an eyesore, which proved to be the decisive factor behind CAF’s ruling.
THEWILL recalls that in December 2021, the Dangote Group of Companies handed over a refurbished Abuja national stadium to the Federal Government, complete with a revamped football field and new computerised scoreboards. The stadium’s renovation was financed through the Adopt-a-Pitch Initiative, which aimed to enhance athlete development in the country.
However, just ten months later, the football field at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium had regressed to its dilapidated condition, causing significant concerns for players and officials alike. Indeed, Everton and Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi, blamed the poor playing surface at the stadium for the Super Eagles’ loss to Guinea Bissau in an AFCON qualifying match in March 2023.
Consequently, the Nigerian national team will be returning to the Godwin Akpabio Stadium for their upcoming fixtures. Their next match is away against Sierra Leone on June 18, which will be played at a neutral venue since no Sierra Leonean stadium received approval from CAF. The team will then conclude the qualifiers by hosting Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, in September. Currently leading Group A with nine points, the Super Eagles only need a point from their next game against Sierra Leone to secure their place in the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
