Governor Makinde to NFF: “Give us the requirements, Oyo State will host Super Eagles”

By Dayo Awoniyi 

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed his administration’s willingness to host Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles, in Ibadan, provided the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) outlines the necessary requirements to upgrade the Lekan Salami Stadium for international matches.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the NFF’s 2025 Annual General Assembly held in Ibadan, Governor Makinde called on the federation to conduct a formal assessment of the stadium and deliver a clear list of compliance measures needed to meet international hosting standards.

“I want the NFF to assess the facilities at the Lekan Salami Stadium and advise the Oyo State Government on what needs to be done to make it eligible to host Super Eagles matches.

“Once we receive the list of requirements, you can be assured it will be implemented. Our people deserve to watch the best footballers in Africa play here,” Makinde stated.

The Lekan Salami Stadium, located in Adamasingba, Ibadan, recently hosted the Falconets’ emphatic 4–0 victory over Rwanda in a 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier, demonstrating its potential as a viable venue for top-tier international fixtures.

However, the stadium has not hosted a Super Eagles match since 1994, when it was used during Nigeria’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup in the United States.

In addition to infrastructure concerns, Governor Makinde also used the platform to advocate for governance reforms within Nigerian football.

He proposed a constitutional amendment that would limit the NFF presidency to a single term of five or six years—a move he believes would enhance continuity and encourage long-term development planning.

“Let us consider a single tenure of five or six years for the NFF President. It will allow for proper planning, execution, and the avoidance of distractions tied to re-election campaigns,” he suggested.

Governor Makinde’s remarks signal a strong commitment by the Oyo State Government to reestablish Ibadan as a key hub for Nigerian football, both in terms of infrastructure and administrative leadership.

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.

See Full Bio