NFF inspectors score Enugu Stadium low

• Rangers FC May Play CAF Champions League Away From Home

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has warned that unless the Enugu State government urgently upgrades the ‘obsolete and dilapidated’ facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium ahead of this year’s CAF Champions League, Nigeria’s representative in the competition, Rangers FC, may end up playing its home matches outside its base.

The CAF Champions League is expected to commence in the second week of February.

Speaking after inspecting various facilities at the Stadium during the week, the NFF delegation expressed disappointment with the poor state of facilities at the 25,000 capacity stadium owned by the state government.

Director of Competitions in the NFF, Bola Oyeyode, who was accompanied by the Federation’s national security
and integrity officer, Christian Emeruwa, and an Assistant Director, Technical, Rafiu Yusuf, insisted that the facilities need to be upgraded to international and FIFA standards.

The visibly angry NFF officials, who were conducted round the stadium by the chairman of Enugu State Football Association, Chidi Offor Okenwa, made it clear that FIFA and CAF do not compromise with standard hence, “things must be put in proper shape.”

Oyeyode said they were in Enugu for the facility tour with a view to ascertaining the true state of the Rangers stadium, so as to enable the NFF prepare and forward a comprehensive report on the facility to CAF ahead of its inspection visit to the stadium.

He however, regretted that the stadium management lacked maintenance culture which resulted to the terrible condition of the sporting edifice, adding that almost all the facilities were dilapidated and in bad condition.

“When you look at the general environment at the stadium, it is nothing to write home about, even the lightening, plumbing, public address system, dressing room, among others, are not in good shape. There are illegal structures everywhere, including beer parlour and eating joints inside the stadium premises. This is highly unacceptable in modern day football administration.”