THE Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development plans to get the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja to host international football matches involving Nigeria’s national teams soon.
Sources said the ministry will write the Nigeria Football Federation to begin the process of getting the stadium certified by the Confederation of African Football in order for the newly renovated ground to be put to use.
The ministry is also looking to work with the NFF to facilitate the installation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
The newly rehabilitated pitch of the stadium and two new digital scoreboards were handed over to the ministry on Friday by Aron Nigeria Limited, the contractors of the Dangote Industries Group on the project.
“The minister has instructed the Department of Facilities in the ministry to work with the NFF on getting the stadium certified by CAF, or even FIFA, if need be,” a ministry source stated.
“He wants the VAR technology installed there as well. So we expect the NFF to write CAF, get a checklist of what needs to be done before an inspection is carried out and to begin these processes without delay.
“Work has commenced on the training pitches and the other necessary facilities like the dressing rooms, Media Centre, referees’ rooms, medical rooms, rest rooms and VIP lounges are at full functionality already.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his Vice-President, who doubles as CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, two months ago visited the stadium and were impressed with the state of the pitch and some other facilities there.
The Moshood Abiola National Stadium was completed in 2003 and it successfully hosted the African Games that year.
It also hosted Manchester United when the Premier League giants visited Nigeria during their pre-season tour in 2008.
The stadium was once one of the best in Africa, regularly hosting Super Eagles games, including Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers, as well as high-profile friendlies against Brazil and Argentina.
However, it was left in a state of disrepair for years before the recent intervention of sports minister Sunday Dare through his ‘Adopt-a-Pitch’ initiative which got the Dangote Industries Group involved.
