Sports

2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifiers: We’ll fill Abuja stadium to lead Eagles to victory with or without govt support” – Dan Arewa

Published

5 years ago

March 28, 2022

…says tickets must be free

By Akeem Busari

As preparations for the return leg of the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana heats up in Abuja, Chairman of Katsina State Football Association, Aminu Kurfi Balele, has declared his interest to team up with other patriotic Nigerian businessmen, even if they have to buy all the match tickets and distribute free to members of the public.

Speaking on a radio show monitored in Lagos, he expressed his disappointment with the decision of the government and NFF to ask soccer fans to pay as much as N2,000 for entry tickets to the stadium.

” I’m totally against the decision of the sports minister and the NFF to place such price on the match tickets. If we actually want to fill the Abuja stadium to its capacity, the gates should be thrown open for free entry.

Kurfi, popular known in the football community as Dan Arewa, further disclosed that he was initially not in support of the choice of the Abuja stadium. He noted that Abuja residents are mostly civil servants who would rather return home after work than go to the stadium, unlike residents of Kano, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Port-Harcourt.

” We saw how the stadium in Ghana was filled to the brims. And we can only get such crowds in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Port-Harcourt because of their love for the game. That’s what we want and the only way to achieve that in Abuja, is to make the entry free for the fans. We must win and qualifier for Qatar.”

Balele who is renowned for his immense contributions to grassroots football development continued, ” We must fill up the Abuja stadium and do everything we can to ensure we qualify for the world cup.

” It is not enough to provide free buses to the stadium. Even if it means reaching out to richer Nigerian business men like Adenuga and Dangote, we shall do it,” he added.

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

41 mins ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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