NFF breaks ground on state-of-the-art Players’ hostel and training pitches in Abuja

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has officially broken ground on a state-of-the-art players’ hostel and training pitches in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in the country’s football development.

Funded by FIFA through its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme, the ambitious project will feature a 68-room hostel, including 62 single rooms, four suites, and two executive suites, designed to provide comfortable accommodations for players. The facility is set to become a hub for Nigeria’s national teams.

In addition to the players’ hostel, the project includes the construction of two new training pitches, the reconstruction of the existing synthetic pitch, spectator terraces with a seating capacity of 1,838, and modern dressing rooms for players and officials.

NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, expressed his excitement, saying, “The NFF is excited about the players’ hostel and new training pitches. This is a transformational project for our national teams, and we are grateful to FIFA for providing the funds for these incredible facilities. From the outset of this administration, we were clear on how to use our FIFA Forward 3.0 funds, and building this facility will enhance team management, reduce expenditure, and allow us to allocate more resources towards grassroots development.”

FIFA’s Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Regional Director (Africa), Gelson Fernandes, praised the project, stati “The main objective of the Forward Programme is to ensure top-quality infrastructure that drives football development worldwide.

The NFF’s transformation of its Technical Centre is a perfect example of this, upgrading training pitches, building modern accommodations, and creating a true home for the national teams. This is a brilliant project for Nigerian football, and we are proud to support it.”

The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by several distinguished guests, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and 10 legends of Nigerian football, including Olusegun Odegbami, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, and Daniel Amokachi.