The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facilities, Ebi Egbe, has reiterated the importance of developing more FIFA-standard football pitches across Nigeria following the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s approval of the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne as Rangers International’s home ground for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Nigeria league champions, Rangers International of Enugu, were forced to adopt the Remo Stars Stadium after the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu was deemed unfit to host international matches, which once again has highlighted the shortage of CAF-approved venues in the country.
The Remo Stars Stadium, constructed by Monimichelle Sports Nigeria, boasts Nigeria’s only FIFA-certified all-weather hybrid synthetic football pitch and is hosting the country’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League preliminary matches.
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Reacting to the development, Egbe described CAF’s approval as a major milestone for Nigerian football and proof that sustained investment in world-class sports infrastructure can transform the game.
He noted that Monimichelle has consistently championed the construction of high-quality football pitches capable of meeting international standards, stressing that quality playing surfaces are essential for improving the standard of football in the country.
Egbe also pointed to ongoing stadium upgrades at the Sardauna Memorial Community Stadium in Gusau, Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi and Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt as encouraging signs that Nigeria is gradually increasing the number of venues capable of hosting elite continental competitions.
According to him, the projects, when completed, will not only benefit the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) but also provide the Super Eagles and other national teams with facilities that match international expectations.
He maintained that the era of depending on just one or two CAF-approved stadiums should soon become a thing of the past, adding that standardising quality playing surfaces nationwide would create the consistency required for both domestic and continental football.
Egbe further explained that while Nigerian footballers possess immense talent, they often struggle with the transition from the high-performance pitches they use abroad to inconsistent playing surfaces at home.
He, however, added that providing FIFA-standard pitches across NPFL venues would not only reduce adaptation time but improve player safety, enhance the quality of football and prepare Nigerian clubs and the Super Eagles better for CAF competitions, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
“For Nigerian football to compete consistently at the highest level, quality playing surfaces must become the norm rather than the exception. Consistency on the pitch is not a luxury it is a competitive advantage,” Egbe stated.
