Sports
Sports Ministry Pledges regular maintenance of Stadia
…As Dangote Group hands over Renovated MKO Abiola
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government has pledged to ensure regular maintenance of stadia across the country in line with international best practice.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare made the pledge on Friday in Abuja at the formal hand over of the renovated main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium from the Contractors to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
The Dangote Industries Group had in Aug. 2020 engaged Aron Nig Ltd for the renovation of the pitch under the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development “Adopt a Pitch” initiative.
Dare said the completion of the re-grassing of the pitch and installation of digital score-boards after some initial hiccups will indeed signal the return of international matches to the stadium.
He said as part of efforts to ensure adequate maintenance, Dangote Group has committed to the maintenance of the pitch for the next two years.
“By the words of the experts here and those that have toured the facility, we have the latest grass here – Paspalum grass, one of the best, when we talk about football pitches across the World.
“Something exactly similar to what we have in Qatar, that will be used for the World Cup next year.
“We thank Alhaji Aliko Dangote for opening his doors to us, and accepting to adopt the Moshood Abiola Stadium when we came up with our ‘Adopt-a-Pitch’ proposal.
We salute his commitment that culminated in the completion of the project today, inclusive of maintenance for at least two years,” Dare said.
The minister said work is also going round the clock to also ensure the timely completion of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.
He assured that the Federal Government will continue to work with the private sector to build and maintenance sporting facilities in the country.
Earlier, Mansur Ahmed, Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications, Dangote Industries Group said the project was part of it’s corporate social responsibility.
He said the vision of Alhaji Aliko Dangote remains partnering with government to upgrade sporting facilities to international standard in a bid to engage and arrest youth restiveness in the country.
“As we all know, Nigerian players are international but until now, we don’t have an international standard facility and our commitment is to work with the Ministry to make sure that this particular facility remains of international standard,” Ahmed said.
Sports
Nigerian Goalkeeper James Honoured with Spot in Finland’s Team of the Season
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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