President of the world football governing body (FIFA), Gianni Infantino has commended the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its commitment to the development of football and sporting infrastructure in Nigeria.
Infantino led a delegation from FIFA to visit President Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Thursday. He had earlier attended the opening ceremony of the Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos on Wednesday.
Speaking during the visit to President Buhari at the State House, Infantino said, “Nigeria has shown serious commitment to football by providing funding and creating a conducive environment for the development and growth of the game.
“This is commendable and really encouraging. The football family speaks only one language and we are one big happy family,” he added.
The FIFA supremo was then led on a short inspection tour of the newly regrassed Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja where Infantino could not hide his excitement as he spoke to newsmen.
Also Read: Buhari Receives FIFA, CAF Presidents In Abuja
“We, as FIFA, are excited to be in a country where the Government, the Minister and the Football Federation are working with private investors like Alhaji Aliko Dangote who is investing in football.
“This is not just about Nigeria or African football, but global football. This Stadium (Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja) is a wonderful edifice. It is an investment, not just for football but in the youth of this wonderful country.
“FIFA appreciates this kind of investment and looks forward to giving its backing to have the stadium host some big games and competitions to bring life to the heartbeat of the stadium,” Infantino said.
11 Comments
With what the president of world football governing body have said about the refurbished MKO Abiola stadium abuja, i think all of our WCQ matches and all subsequent games of the national team should be hosted by this stadium
I support your statements @Anthony
Eye service things. The stadium is in shape because they knew Infantino was coming. When he leaves is when we will really know how far. Let’s hope between now and the next qualifiers, the stadium continues to be properly maintained.
In support of what POMPEL have said, I could remember when OSIBAJO came to LAGOS/APAPA no lorry/trailer tanker parks on d road. BUT immediately he left all the tanker starting parks on road again. Our leaders are all SCAMMER. NIGERIANS don’t be DECIEVED.
Osihmen with a brace. This boy na pure tornentor in chief. He don bully John evans, soyuncu and westegard today, these defenders won’t 4get today in a hurry. 2 beautiful goals by osihmen. Active all thru the game. Iheanacho was also impressive but osihmen stole the show at the end with 2 excellent goals. The 1st was a peach of a goal. Took westergard to skool b4 heighting schmeichle and the 2nd a fine header
Ohh mehn nice performance by Nigerian players. Osimhen and onuachu on target. I watched the first half of Leicester vs Napoli. I felt Napoli had better players but Leicester played more like a team. Too bad Ndidi got red carded in the 93rd minute but thats what happens when you over work a player at least now he will get some rest and face premiership and/or Fa cup matches.
Osimhen is a star, no doubt he Is our undisputed number one striker. Im guessing all those English teams will be salivating at the chance to get a striker of his quality. Napoli may most likely win this group but anything is possible. Nice game.
@Pompei,the contract for the renovation of the stadium was awarded more than one year ago,so how come they made it in shape cos of the visit of Infatino who merely visited today.His visit was merely a co-inccidence as the job just got done.
We should pls check our mental state,as our hatred for anything and everybody is getting out of hands.
National team matches should be played in the national stadia, Lagos or Abuja, enough of playing these matches in sub standard stadium, when there is a stadium like this what are we doing in Teslim Balogun or Ugbemudia stadium? I’m sure if Borno state government offer NFA money they will take the boys there even though it’s dangerous
Emmanuel, if my refusal to tolerate mediocrity and incompetence is HATRED to you, then I can only laugh at your viewpoint! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Your rude, uncouth comment notwithstanding, I insist that it is not FIFA president’s visit that pitches should be maintained for. We need our pitches to be in top shape for matches. Period!
SPORTS IS A BUSINESS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AS BIG AS NIGERIA IS, IT IS A VERY BIG SHAME FOR NIGERIA NOT TO HAVE 10 MAGNIFICENT STADIUM BETTER THAN ABUJA STADIUM. NIGERIA NATIONAL TEAMS HAVE TO EMBARK ON OUTDATED STADIUM THAT CANNOT EVEN BE ACCEPTED BY CAF TO HOST “MODERN TECHNOLOGY” U-17 NATION CUP USE TO BE PLAYING THEIR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.
FORGET S/AFRICA, EGYPT, TUNISIA. LOOK AT COUNTRIES LIKE EQUITORIA-GUINEA, GABON, MOROCCO: THEY CAN BOAST OF 10 BEST STADIA. YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IF EQ GUINEA ARE CAPABLE OF HOSTING TWO AFCON COMPETITION IN 2013 & 2017 WITHIN 4 YEARS. THEN AS BIG AS NIGERIA IS, AS HOUSEHOLD NAME, “HOW MANY TIMES AS WE HOSTED AFCON COMPETITION IN THIS MILLENNIUM???” ONLY YEAR 2000. NOT EVEN SUBSTANTIVE HOST, WE DID “CO-HOST” WITH GHANA BECAUSE OF LACK OF GOOD FACILITIES IN STADIA. INFACT WHAT A BIG SHAME.
SPORTS IS A BUSINESS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AS BIG AS NIGERIA IS, IT IS A VERY BIG SHAME FOR NIGERIA NOT TO HAVE 10 MAGNIFICENT STADIUM BETTER THAN ABUJA STADIUM. NIGERIA NATIONAL TEAMS HAVE TO EMBARK ON OUTDATED STADIUM THAT CANNOT EVEN BE ACCEPTED BY CAF TO HOST “MODERN TECHNOLOGY” U-17 NATION CUP USE TO BE PLAYING THEIR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.
FORGET S/AFRICA, EGYPT, TUNISIA. LOOK AT COUNTRIES LIKE EQUITORIA-GUINEA, GABON, MOROCCO: THEY CAN BOAST OF 10 BEST STADIA. YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IF EQ GUINEA ARE CAPABLE OF HOSTING TWO AFCON COMPETITION IN 2013 & 2017 WITHIN 4 YEARS. THEN AS BIG AS NIGERIA IS, AS HOUSEHOLD NAME, “HOW MANY TIMES AS WE HOSTED AFCON COMPETITION IN THIS MILLENNIUM???” ONLY YEAR 2000. NOT EVEN SUBSTANTIVE HOST, WE DID “CO-HOST” WITH GHANA BECAUSE OF LACK OF GOOD FACILITIES IN STADIA. INFACT WHAT A BIG SHAME.