NFF to construct FIFA-funded players’ hostel inside Abuja stadium

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has announced plans to construct a players’ hostel and training pitches inside the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. 

In a statement on Monday, the federation said the hostel will be a 68-room facility at the heart of Package B of the stadium.

The projected NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel will have two wings, with A and B sections, and 62 single rooms, four suites, and two executive suites.

NFF will also construct two new training pitches — one synthetic and one natural grass — and reconstruct the existing synthetic pitch.

Two dressing rooms for players and officials will be built alongside 1,838-seat terraces for spectators.

FIFA is funding the construction through its FIFA Forward 3.0 program, and it is projected to be completed in 24 months.

Tajudeen Abbass, speaker of house of representatives, will do the groundbreaking for the project on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Gusau, NFF president, said the planned facility will reduce the federation’s expenditure on hospitality, enabling more funds to be allocated to grassroots programmes.

“The NFF is excited about the Players’ Hostel and new training pitches. It is a transformational project around our national teams and we are grateful to FIFA for providing the funds for these amazing facilities,” Gusau said.

“Right from the inception of the present NFF administration, we were very clear on what we wanted to do with our FIFA Forward 3.0 funds. Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management, it will substantially reduce expenditure in these areas and enable us to commit more funds to grassroots development programs.”

Dignitaries expected at the groundbreaking ceremony include Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff; Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP); Bashir Adeniyi, comptroller general of Customs; and Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC);

Others are former Super Eagles stars: Olusegun Odegbami, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Nwankwo Kanu, Mutiu Adepoju, Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Ahmed Musa, Precious Dede and Stella Mbachu.