Super Eagles’ return to Abuja gets boost

The Super Eagles could return to Abuja soon, with the National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Shehu Dikko, outlining plans to turn the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, into one of the best football venues in Africa and provide Nigeria with a proper base for international matches.

The poor condition of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, in recent times has compelled the Super Eagles to use the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, for many of their home fixtures.

The Stadium in Abuja, which was commissioned ahead of the hosting of the 2003 All Africa Games, has suffered years of deterioration and has repeatedly needed major rehabilitation.

The Federal Government approved a comprehensive redevelopment of the Abuja stadium earlier this year, including the main pitch, tracks, dressing rooms, media centre, public address system, security facilities, floodlights and other parts of the complex. Two new training pitches are also part of the plans.

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Dikko revealed that the scale of the Abuja project goes well beyond replacing the playing surface, with the commission targeting what he described as the “best pitch in Africa”.

“We have already procured all the contracts. We have already awarded all the projects,” Dikko said.

He explained that the company brought in for the pitch has worked on major European stadiums, including the San Siro and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu.

“The same people that did the pitch in San Siro, Deventos pitch, Real Madrid, everywhere. There are the pitchers that have come to do Abuja pitch,” he added.

The delay in installing the new surface, he explained, is partly because the contractors need to test the conditions in Abuja before deciding exactly what should be used.

“They have to come and take the sand and the water to Europe for tests, for samples. To make sure that the grass that’s being put there will be the best,” Dikko said.