Nigerian Super Eagles home games may return to Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja as rehabilitation fo the stadium is completed.
Dangote group contractors, Aron Nigeria Limited, has handed over the rehabilitation of the National Stadium to the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
The rehabilitation done at the Stadium was for the main bowl pitch and the scoreboard.
Super Eagles to Play in Abuja
Sunday Dare, Minister for Youths and Sports Development, said this on Friday, while calling for the return of the National Team to Abuja as their permanent home stadium like every other country.
“It is my wish that the Super Eagles and indeed the national teams of Nigeria, like elsewhere, have a permanent venue to play their matches rather than playing from one place to another,” Dare said last month while speaking to State House correspondents.
“There are great benefits for countries’ national teams to have a particular venue where the players understand very well. I believe very soon the Super Eagles will be playing their matches in Abuja or Lagos if the national stadium is fully ready too.”
The eagles last played in the Abuja stadium on in 2012 and have played thereafter in Uyo, Benin, Portharcourt and Lagos.
Their were contemplations on making the Lagos based Teslim Balogun Stadium as their new home, until news emerged last week that Confederation of African Football (CAF) has banned matches from holding in the stadium.
The letter signed by CAF development Director Raul Chipenda, and read by the Secretary-General of Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi stated that the stadium after inspection by CAF officials, “lacks the CAF criteria and requirements in order to properly host international competitions”.
The Super Eagles will be competing at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon by January as they are grouped with Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.