Sports

LAGOS NATIONAL STADIUM FINALLY WEARS NEW LOOK FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF REHABILITATION WORK ON DECAYED FACILITIES

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2023

One of Nigeria’s iconic Sporting Facilities the National stadium in Surulere Lagos is finally returning back to its glory days with the completion of rehabilitation work on its decayed facilities.

The Lagos stadium has been abandoned for so many years before the immediate past Minister for Youth and Sports Sunday Dare took it upon himself to ensure the revival of the edifice that was once Nigeria’s home of Sporting Glory.

Months after leaving office, Dare can be proud after ensuring that the job he started when he was at the helms has now been completed.

The National Stadium surelere can now boast of a world class football pitch and tracks with a functional scoreboard.

The level of damage of the Lagos stadium was so huge that previous Sports Ministers only made promises but was never able to do anything to give the facilities a facelift.

But Dare’s Adopt a facility initiative was a public private model which was able to deliver some critical sporting infrastructure across the country.

In the case of National Stadium Surulere, Dare was able to parent with Sir Adebutu Keshington, the founder of Premier Lotto to renovate 3 critical components of the Surulere stadium in Lagos.

The success of a similar partnership was achieved with the Dangote Group under Dare and it delivered critical renovations at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

When some negative stories were reported in the media in April about the Lagos stadium, Dare maintained that work might be slow but it will completed as promised.

In 2019, Dare embarked on an inspection tour of the Lagos stadium alongside the Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu and gave his assurances to revamp the stadium and today he has put to action those promises.

Built in 1961, the stadium hosted the 1963 All Africa Games and in 1980 Nigeria lifted their first Africa cup of Nations title at the same stadium.

2004 was the last time the stadium hosted a football tournament but with the latest rehabilitation, sports fans can now look forward to a return of Sporting activities in Surelere.

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Sports

Nigerian Goalkeeper James Honoured with Spot in Finland’s Team of the Season

Published

21 hours ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Ibrahim Lawal

Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper Samuel Friday James has earned recognition among the best-performing players in Finland following his impressive displays for SJK Akatemia in the 2026 season.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper ranks second among the league’s selected best-performing XI, with an average rating of 7.61, according to statistics published by Totori News.

James’ performances have stood out despite the challenging campaign faced by his club, with his consistency between the posts making him one of the bright spots in the team.

The former Mavlon FC goalkeeper has recorded four clean sheets in Finland’s Ykkösliiga this season, while his shot-stopping ability has further underlined his growing reputation in European football.

According to available season statistics from FootyStats, James has made 20 league appearances, playing 1,800 minutes. He has conceded 32 goals and made 75 saves from 109 shots faced, giving him a save percentage of approximately 68.8 per cent.

His four clean sheets account for 20 per cent of his league appearances, demonstrating his ability to keep opponents at bay despite the defensive challenges confronting his team.

James has also shown composure and resilience in difficult matches, including his recent international outing for Nigeria against Russia, where he made his senior Super Eagles appearance in the 3-3 friendly draw on October 6.

Standing at 1.95 metres, the young goalkeeper possesses the physical attributes required for the modern game, combining his reach with quick reactions and an increasingly valuable experience of European football.

His rise has been particularly encouraging following his move from Lagos-based Mavlon FC to Finland in 2025. Since then, he has continued to develop through regular competitive football and has attracted attention for his performances.

James’ latest statistical recognition of 7.55 rating in the team of the season adds to his growing profile as Nigeria continues to assess goalkeeping options for the future.

At 20, the goalkeeper will be hoping to build on his progress in Finland and establish himself as a regular contender for the Super Eagles, while continuing to improve his performances at club level.

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