Niger Begins Bako Kontagora Stadium Upgrade with FIFA-Standard Pitch Ahead of NPFL Season

The Niger State Government has flagged off the reconstruction of the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, with plans to install a FIFA-standard synthetic pitch ahead of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The project was officially handed over to Diamond Orange Limited as part of efforts to ensure Niger Tornadoes return to playing their home matches in Minna when the new league campaign begins.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development and Supervising Commissioner for Sports, Jacob Baba Yisa, said Governor Mohammed Umar Bago approved the immediate commencement of the renovation and directed that the facility be upgraded to meet the required standards.

Yisa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering the project on schedule, expressing confidence that the stadium would be ready for Niger Tornadoes to host home fixtures from the start of the 2026/27 NPFL season.

Chairman of the Niger Tornadoes Management Committee, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi Kuso, described the redevelopment as another significant achievement under the state’s New Niger Agenda. He disclosed that Governor Bago had specifically instructed him to ensure the club returns to Minna for its home games.

“Following a one-on-one meeting with the Governor, he directed me to do everything possible to ensure Niger Tornadoes play their home matches in Minna from the beginning of the league season,” Kuso said.

Managing Director of Diamond Orange Limited, Isaac Obonyano, assured stakeholders that the project would be completed within the agreed timeline and in line with approved specifications. He noted that the FIFA-recognised synthetic turf comes with a 10-year warranty and added that the renovation would also include infrastructure capable of hosting night matches at the Bako Kontagora Stadium.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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