Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Musa Gusau has reportedly described it as "a shame" that the country's capital has no pitch of the required standard for the Super Eagles and other national teams.
In comments made by the Edo journalist Osasu Obayiuwana on Saturday, Gusau said the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is currently the only venue in Nigeria capable of hosting international matches and training camps for the senior national teams.
Gusau credited Uyo's continued good condition to its maintenance contract with construction firm Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. He revealed he had to intervene personally to ensure the deal was renewed after the current Akwa Ibom governor considered cancelling it over cost.
"I had to fight hard to get the current governor of Akwa Ibom State to renew that maintenance contract. He came very close to cancelling it, because he felt it was too expensive. I had to tell him that it would not be a good legacy to discontinue the good work of his predecessors. I am happy he listened to my advice," Gusau told Obayiuwana.
The admission highlights Nigeria's persistent stadium infrastructure crisis, with the 60,000-capacity Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja repeatedly failing to meet CAF and FIFA standards due to poor pitch maintenance.