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Tag: MKO Abiola Stadium

  • Flamingos arrive, meet with sports minister in Abuja

    Flamingos arrive, meet with sports minister in Abuja

    In order to make world champions of World Cup bronze medallists, Flamingos given their innate talent and skills and demonstrated ability, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will provide maximum support and encouragement to the Nigeria Football Federation as the players graduate from one level to another.

    This pledge was contained in the remarks of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare as he hosted the bronze medallists of the recently-concluded 7th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, Flamingos of Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Tuesday.

    “We commend you for the way you performed without fear and held up the flag to win a historic bronze for our country in this competition. I praise the NFF for the support to the team right from their screening through the qualifiers and to the arrangements for final camping in Turkey and the final tournament in India. We must also commend the coaching crew for their steadfastness in imparting the right knowledge to the players.

    “I will be happy to see these players graduate from this level to the U20 and then to the senior team, because they have the skills and talent, and demonstrated ability to do very well. The Ministry will give NFF the right support to achieve that. They have served well as good ambassadors of our country on and off the pitch.”

    Earlier, President of the NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau had introduced the team to the Minister, recalling the team’s exploits during the qualifying campaign and at the final competition in India, describing the players as “young, energetic, vibrant, positive and promising.”

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, hailed the team for “performing so wonderfully well” to make Nigeria proud, and observed that its success was attributable to synergy and telepathy, which should be credited to the coaching crew.

    Captain of the team, Alvine Dah-Zossu expressed appreciation to the Ministry and the NFF, and thanked Nigerians from all walks of life who prayed for and wished the team well in India.

    Also at the occasion were Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President); Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary); Mr. Timothy Henman (NFF Board Member); Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye (Director, FEADS); Engineer Olatunji Okedairo (Director, Facilities); Alhaji Musa Jafaar (Director, Human Resources); Mr. Segun Oke (Director of Procurement); Chairmen of the Football Associations of Gombe and Kwara States and; Ms Mary Onyali (SA to the Hon. Minister).

    Earlier, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the players and their officials were received by Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary); Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications); Barnabas Joro (Head of Protocol); Dayo Enebi Achor (Head of International); Toyin Ibitoye (Special Assistant to the Hon. Minister) and; Emmanuel Ayanbunmi (Chief Protocol Officer).

    Chief Anyansi-Agwu gave kudos to the team for their excellent conduct on and off the field of play in India and assured them that the Government and people of Nigeria, as well as the NFF, are proud of their accomplishments.

    A dummy cheque of the sum of N3million promised the team by Super Eagles’ captain Ahmed Musa was presented to the players and officials at the airport. Chairman of the NFF Task Force on Youth Competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi promised the team the sum of $10,000.

    The Presidency will host the team at a later date.

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles kick off qualifying series against Sierra Leone in Abuja

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria is set to clash with the Leone stars of Sierra Leone on Thursday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja in the AFCON 2023 qualifying series.

    Super Eagles hasn’t beaten Sierra Leone in their last 5 encounters.

    In the last qualifying series, Nigeria ,Sierra Leone played out a 4-4 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City and  a goaless draw in   the reverse fixtures in Sierra Leone.

    The three-time African champions, who are gunning for a third consecutive appearance at the continental showpiece, will hope to record their 10th win against their West African neighbours – whom they boast a better head-to-head record from their last 16 matches.

    Recall that football governing body FIFA has imposed a fine of over N63 million on Nigeria and playing their first home game behind closed doors over the violence that erupted at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, after a World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ghana in March.

    Meanwhile Super Eagles has not recorded a win in five months – their last was a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the group stages of the 2021 AFCON on January 19.

    However,  Peseiro’s men have shown some good signs but will likely not have it easy against the Leone Stars, who will be eager to beat the Eagles for the first time in five meetings.

    They have lost three times and recorded two draws since a 1-0 win over the Eagles in 2001.

    While Sierra Leone will look to pick up a third consecutive victory and get their AFCON qualifier campaign off to a flyer, next up is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of the last five meetings between both teams.

    Super Eagles coach Jose Paseiro said the Super Eagles looks good and refreshed.

    Paseiro Said:“We are about to begin an important journey at AFCON with motivation and a sense of pride,”

     

  • Nigeria versus Sierra Leone match to be played behind closed door

    The Nigeria Football Federation has reiterated that Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter between the Super Eagles and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja will be played without fans in the stands.

     NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said in Abuja on Tuesday that the situation is a consequence of the one-match ban placed on the country by world football –governing body, FIFA over the fracas that followed the end of 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff round against the Black Stars of Ghana in March.  

     “We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game. It is only a one-match ban, after which they can again start trooping out to support the Super Eagles. The match against Sierra Leone will be without fans as a consequence of what happened after the match against the Ghanaians.

     “Nonetheless, we want to urge all our football fans, and indeed all Nigerians, to support the team whichever way they can and pray for success against the Sierra Leoneans on Thursday.”

     The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja in a Day 1 game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations starting from 5pm on Thursday, 9th June. Four days later, they tackle ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’of São Tomé and Príncipe at the 45,000 –capacity Grand Stade de Agadir in southern Morocco.

     While CAF has appointed Ivorian officials to take charge of the encounter in Abuja, Liberian officials led by referee Hassen Corneh will oversee the match in Agadir on Monday.

  • India 2022: Flamingos defeats Egypt U-17 girls 4-0 in Abuja

    India 2022: Flamingos defeats Egypt U-17 girls 4-0 in Abuja

    Nigeria’s U17 girls have one leg in the final round of the African qualification series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup after a 4-0 defeat of their Egyptian counterparts at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday.

    Defender Tumininu Adeshina had flashed a shot into the side-netting in the 13th minute before team’s leading scorer Opeyemi Ajakaiye drew applause with a snap shot after chesting the ball outside the eighteen –yard box. But the ball was slightly off target.

    Adeshina again shot above target in the 20th minute, before Ajakaiye scored her fourth goal of the qualifiers with an angled shot that beat goalkeeper Habbiba El Taher fair and square in the 28th minute.

    Three minutes later, the handful Laila Zaher got the better of the Nigeria defence and forced goalkeeper Faith Omilana into a save, before the ball was cleared from danger.

    Nigeria would not relent and forward Omowunmi Bello headed home the second goal in the 39th minute from a corner kick by Tumininu Adeshina.

    In the second half, Ajakaiye meandered her way past the Egyptian defence in the 46th minute but Judith Okah just failed to utilize the opportunity. Eight minutes later, defender Miracle Usani found herself with the ball just outside the Egyptian box after everyone had missed from a corner kick, and slammed past goalkeeper El Taher for Nigeria’s third.

    In the 62nd minute, Bello again showed immense composure to lift the ball above onrushing El Taher, after she had been brilliantly played-in by the excellent Taiwo Afolabi on a counter-attack.

    Bello had two more opportunities to claim a hat-trick but missed narrowly from close range, just as Ajakaiye fluffed a good opportunity with 14 minutes left.

    Both teams clash again in Cairo on the last day of this month, with the winner most likely to play Ethiopia in the final round of the series for a ticket to the FIFA World Cup in India. Ethiopia trounced South Africa 3-0 away from home on Saturday

  • Nigeria v Ghana: Senate summons Sports Minister, NFF President over vandalisation of Stadium

    Nigeria v Ghana: Senate summons Sports Minister, NFF President over vandalisation of Stadium

    The Senate has summoned Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare over vandalisation of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja by hoodlums on March 29, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

    The upper chamber equally invited the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and other agencies involved in the maintenance of stadium.

    The resolutions were sequel to a Point of Order raised by Sen. Michael Nnachi (PDP-Ebonyi) during Wednesday’s plenary.

    The Senate also mandated its Committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the failure of the Eagles to qualify for the World Cup in spite of the numerous government support.

    “Violent reaction by irate fans reportedly took place in the aftermath of the Nigeria vs Ghana qualifier leading to vandalisation of facilities at the stadium and the unfortunate death of Zambian CAF official, Joseph Kabungo.

    “The national stadium was jam-packed with highly expectant Nigerian fans throughout the controversial match and the alleged violent reaction of those fans to the outcome of this match has become a subject of local and international media criticism.

    “A lot of valuable facilities at the stadium were destroyed but the extent of destruction is yet to be determined by the relevant government authority.

    “There is no gainsaying that the destruction will cause the government of Nigeria several millions of naira to either replace or effect repairs.

    “Apart from several unidentified football fans who were injured as a result of this incident, the death of Dr Joseph is a huge loss to the global football community.”

    Supporting the motion, Sen. Abba Moro (PDP-Benue) said it was a very sad day for Nigeria.

    “It is sad that Nigerians vented their anger and frustration on the physical stadium.

    “There is an urgent need for this Senate, if possible, to intervene to see that our stadia across Nigeria are properly structured and made in such a way that future occurrence or fans invading the pitch or destroying the stadium will be prevented,” he said.

  • [Video] Qatar 2022: Angry fans destroy MKO Abiola stadium after Super Eagles exit

    [Video] Qatar 2022: Angry fans destroy MKO Abiola stadium after Super Eagles exit

    Angry fans have invaded the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, to express their dissatisfaction over the poor performance of the Super Eagles, in failing to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, following a 1-1 draw with Ghana on Tuesday.

    In a video that went viral, Nigerians were seen running around the pitch and vandalising items at the Stadium.

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  • We need N81m to cut grass in Abuja stadium – Sunday Dare

    We need N81m to cut grass in Abuja stadium – Sunday Dare

    The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has said it will cost a whopping N81 million to cut grasses that have taken over the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

    Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development revealed this during a one-day seminar organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT chapter.

    According to the Minister, the ministry approached the AEPB for assessment of the stadium, which was built in 2003 with N53 billion on a 29 hectares (72 acres) of land.

    The stadium is divided into Package A which houses the Main Bowl and Package B which houses other facilities like basketball courts, NFF office, volleyball courts, tennis courts, squash courts.

    “We approached AEPB to come see what can be done to clear the grass and weed in the stadium and they told us it will cost us N81m.

    “If we tell Nigerians we used N81m which is not even available, there will be an outcry. The funds are not really there for us and that is why we are partnering with private investors to bring back the key components of our infrastructures,” he said.

  • Sports minister relocates to MKO Stadium, Abuja

    Sports minister relocates to MKO Stadium, Abuja

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has relocated his office to the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

    Dare stated that the move, , was in line with the his promise to ensure that the nation’s sports facilities are restored to become fully functional.

    He made the disclosure in a statement by Mr Ramon Balogun, Assistant Director, Press in the ministry.

    He said that with the move, he has made good on his earlier promise to keep a close tab on the revitalisation of Nigeria’s sporting facilities.

    “It is also a sharp departure from what has been regarded as the norm in the past,” he said.

    The Minister indicated that he will be working sometimes days of the week from the stadium.

    He asserted that the Youth and Sports ministry was a critical artery to Nigeria’s human capital development, adding, that 13 Ministries have youth development as part of their budgets and mandate.

    The ministry according to him, will leverage on the pivotal advantage expressed in the National Youth Policy for socio-economic empowerment of our youths.

    He emphasised the importance of communication to youth and sports development, while urging the press unit of the Ministry to improve on its professionalism by reporting events timely and accurately with authentic and approved facts before disseminating to the Nigerian public.

    He also reemphasised his determination to give the youth component of the ministry’s mandate massive attention.