The Super Eagles’ next match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers may take place at Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, if an elaborate plan that has been set in motion by Nigeria’s sports egg heads proves to be effective.
Sports247 gathered that this is sequel to detailed information emerging from the National Sports Commission (NSC) that moves have begun towards renovating a number of pitches across the country, starting with the nation’s flagship arena in Abuja.
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In effect, the Super Eagles may end up having a psychological advantage of playing their September 1st World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rather than at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, where they have failed to win their last four home games and the venue has been dubbed ‘a bad luck home’ for the team.
While the Eagles have upcoming friendlies against Ghana and Russia to first think about this month and next, hope is rising high that their next competitive clash with Rwanda will take place in Abuja.
This prospect has now received a massive boost, with reassuring words from NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, who disclosed that he recently travelled to Europe to parley with a number of hi-tec pitch manufacturers regarding relaying the turf in Abuja.
Dikko revealed further, “There’s a huge budget to fix the stadiums. We want to fix Abuja Stadium in particular, which is the national stadium. We want to fix Abuja Stadium quickly, and that’s the first thing we are planning.
“I just returned from abroad, as I went throughout Europe to get the best people for the pitch. What’s the foundation of a stadium? It’s the grass. If the grass is good, the rest are just physical infrastructure you need to fix.”
Dikko went on to disabuse the mind of any Doubting Thomas, as he declared emphatically that the arena in Abuja will be back in top shape before September, which means Nigeria would equally be able to host the Eagles final game of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the same venue, against Benin Republic on October 13th.
“We will not fix only the grass, but we’re also looking at the maintenance structure. We want to train people here to learn how to maintain it very well. That will be something extra to do, but we are hoping that, before September, Abuja Stadium will be ready,” Dikko assured.
