Nigeria FA announce plans to build hostels, pitches for national teams

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is planning to build hostels and pitches for the national teams.

In a statement, the Federation announced this plans after its Executive Committee meeting and explained that the projects proposed by the NFF president Ibrahim Gusau will be funded through the FIFA Forward Programme.

And president Gusau has gained the approval of his executive committee to execute the projects in Abuja.

“The Board unanimously endorsed a proposal by its President to utilize the residual funds from FIFA Forward 2.0 and the proposed funds from the incipient FIFA Forward 3.0 for the construction of a befitting hostel accommodation for the National Teams,” the communique read.

“The construction of two Football Pitches (one natural turf and one synthetic turf) for use by the Teams at the Goal Project section, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.”

The news is such a cheering one given the spate of expenses incurred by the Federation on hotels whenever the national teams are on assignment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The pitches will allow the national teams to train on decent structures ahead of important engagements.

This has made it difficult for the national teams to camp at the same time in Abuja while preparing for tournaments.

Nigeria’s national Under 17 team, the Golden Eaglets are currently preparing for the 2023 U17 AFCON at the ragged Goal Project pitch, the same place the U20s also prepared for their continental tournament.