Sports
Age Grade Team will Bounce Back To Glory, Mouktar Vows
FCT Football Association Chairman, Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has promised that the country’s various age-grade teams will soon bounce back to top reckoning.
Mouktar Mohammed is a member of the three-man panel appointed by the NFF to oversee the preparations of Nigeria’s age-grade teams – Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 – for crucial international tournaments.
Nigeria made history when they became the first African nation to win Football Gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, while the country is the most successful team at U17 level after the Golden Eaglets scooped five World Cups – 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.
He said the panel is fully committed to the responsibility handed it and the result will be that these teams will soon be flying the Nigerian flag higher again in international competitions.
“I wish to personally commend the NFF President Ibrahim Gusau for this initiative to re-energise the age-grade team through the task force,” Mouktar Mohammed said.
“Nigeria Football must again lay special emphasis on development as well as international exposure through these teams.
“And as a panel, we are ready to lead this revival to international glory for our youth teams.”
Today in India, the Flamingos will hope to make history by reaching the semifinal of the FIFA I17 World Cup at the expense of USA, while tomorrow the country’s U23 men’s team will do battle in Tanzania in an U23 AFCON qualifier.
“We believe the Flamingos can do Nigeria proud in faraway India today by getting to the semifinals of the World Cup,” Mouktar Mohammed said.
“They have the total support of all Nigerians to make history for both themselves and the country.“We are also confident that the U23s will get a result in Tanzania tomorrow so that the return leg match in Ibadan will be a mere formality.”
Sports
Speaker House Reps, Abbas, Others Thumbs NFF President Over NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches

…Says It Will Boost Nigeria’s Economy
By Joel Ajayi
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for initiating the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches, describing it as a transformational project that will boost Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Speaker Abbas praised the initiative and pledged the National Assembly’s full support.
“This is a noble project, and the National Assembly will give it full support. I congratulate the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, and I thank FIFA for agreeing to fund this project,” he stated while cutting the ceremonial tape.
He also assured the House of Representatives’ support for the visionary leadership of Engineer Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the NFF in other key areas where assistance is required.
Leading the FIFA delegation, Gelson Fernandes (Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer/Regional Director, Africa) reiterated FIFA’s commitment to funding the project, emphasizing that infrastructure development has been a priority since the tenure of President Gianni Infantino began.
Expressing his excitement, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated that the hostel and training pitches will serve all Nigerian national teams, leagues, and academies.
“Indeed, my joy knows no bounds. From the day my Executive Committee and I were sworn into office in Benin City on Friday, 30th September 2022, I was determined to push this project forward as a legacy for Nigerian football.
“For sustained success, we must provide a conducive environment, infrastructure, equipment, and support systems that enable players and officials to perform at their best.
“Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management but also reduce costs, allowing us to invest more in grassroots development programs.”
Several dignitaries present at the event applauded Gusau’s leadership, determination, and commitment to football development in Nigeria.
The event was well attended by local and international stakeholders, including sports enthusiasts, who witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches.
In addition to the hostel, the project includes:Two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass). Reconstruction of the existing synthetic pitch.
Also, Spectators’ sitting terraces with 1,838 seats.Two dressing rooms for players, each accommodating 27 players.Two dressing rooms for officials.
The construction is expected to last 24 months and is fully funded by FIFA under its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme.
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