Sports
Ugborodo’s abandoned FIFA project
Pinnick and Monimichelle accuse each other of being responsible for the project’s abandonment, while the public remains in the dark about what funds were released, how they were utilised, and why the project has been put on hold.
(Vanguard): When former FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter, launched the FIFA Goal Project in 1999, the initiative was envisioned as a catalyst for global football development; one that would help countries build modern training grounds, nurture grassroots talents and strengthen the structures of football administration.
For many nations, the project has been nothing short of transformative.
In Nigeria, however, the story is painfully familiar.In 2020, FIFA approved the construction of two mini-stadiums: one in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and another in Ugborodo, Delta State; each valued at $1.2 million.
While the Kebbi facility, built by Enron Construction, now stands completed, the Ugborodo project has become mired in controversy, delay and finger-pointing. And once again, Nigerians are left asking: How did we get here?
Launched with enthusiasm, the Ugborodo mini-stadium was celebrated as a project that would unite the Itsekiri, Ilaje, and Ijaw communities.
Delta State officials promised full support, applauding FIFA and the NFF for selecting the community.
Yet today, the site, awarded to Monimichelle Sports Construction Company under the leadership of then NFF President Amaju Pinnick, has become a symbol of yet another failed infrastructure dream.
While the Kebbi facility, built by Enron Construction, now stands completed, the Ugborodo project has become mired in controversy, delay and finger-pointing.
The stalled project is not just a physical eyesore, it is a metaphor for the deeper malaise afflicting Nigeria’s sports development ecosystem.
At a time when the nation continues to produce exceptional football talents against all odds, the very infrastructure meant to nurture these talents is either non-existent, ill-maintained or abandoned.
Worse still, the key actors are now trading blame instead of providing answers.
Pinnick and Monimichelle accuse each other of being responsible for the project’s abandonment, while the public remains in the dark about what funds were released, how they were utilised, and why the project has been put on hold.
Nigerians deserve better than recycled excuses. They deserve accountability.
The FIFA Goal Project operates with strict implementation and reporting standards.
If Nigeria cannot properly manage a $1.2 million mini-stadium, what message does that send about our seriousness in sports administration?
Why has no one been held accountable? How much was disbursed? What are the deliverables? Who failed to meet them?The Ugborodo embarrassment should be a turning point.
Every FIFA-funded or assisted project in Nigeria must henceforth undergo independent auditing, transparent, publicly accessible reporting and community-level monitoring to prevent abandonment and diversion.
Sports infrastructure is not a political souvenir to be handed out for patronage. It is a national asset with long-term developmental value.
Treating such projects casually undermines the opportunities for young athletes. It erodes public trust.
Ugborodo should therefore stand as a wake-up call, not another forgotten statistic in Nigeria’s long list of uncompleted projects.
And Nigeria must finally learn to move from fanfare to follow-through, from ceremonial ground-breaking to sustained institution-building.
Our young talents deserve better and more.
Sports
WAFCON 2026 final draw holds Jan 15 in Rabat
Voting for the CAF Women’s Interclub Player of the Year involves members of the media, as well as captains and coaches from teams participating in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The Final Draw for the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 will take place in Rabat on Thursday, 15 January 2025, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has confirmed.
The qualified teams for the competition are hosts Morocco, alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
The event will also feature the announcement of the remaining winners in the CAF Awards 2025 Women’s Categories, including the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year and other top honours in women’s football.
The draw will mark a milestone for the continental tournament, which will feature an expanded 16-team field for the first time in its history.
Ahead of the draw, CAF will announce the winners of three outstanding women’s football awards: CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, CAF Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, and CAF Women’s Club of the Year.
The awards were initially scheduled to be presented during the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony but were postponed as the women’s football season had not concluded, owing to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League. CAF earlier this week officially reopened voting for the three categories.
CAF has reiterated that while it does not participate in the voting process, it oversees and coordinates the exercise.
Voting for the CAF Women’s Interclub Player of the Year involves members of the media, as well as captains and coaches from teams participating in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Sports
Ndidi builds up team’s moral , offers to pay outstanding bonuses
“I’ve now made a commitment to the staff and players that I’ll personally pay the bonuses if the authorities fail to before Saturday. I don’t want these unpaid bonuses to affect our preparations.”
Photo: Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has pledged to pay all outstanding winning bonuses at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco if the Federal Government and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) fail to settle the payments before Saturday.
Despite assurances from the Federal Government and the National Sports Commission (NSC), the three-time African champions are yet to receive winning bonuses for their first four matches at AFCON 2025.
“I’ve been pushing the team to train and play the game vs Algeria. I’ve been doing this since the second game,” Ndidi was quoted by BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji on Thursday in a post on X.
“I’ve now made a commitment to the staff and players that I’ll personally pay the bonuses if the authorities fail to before Saturday. I don’t want these unpaid bonuses to affect our preparations.”
Recall that the Super Eagles on Wednesday threatened to boycott training and delay travel to Marrakech over unpaid bonuses for their three group-stage matches and the round of 16 at the tournament.
The team is owed win bonuses for victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique. Reports indicated that the players warned they would not train or travel unless the issue was resolved.
Sports
Super Eagles arrive Marrakech for Algeria quarter-final clash
Promise Efoghe, the team’s Media Officer, told NAN that the squad arrived safely and had shifted focus to recovery and preparation.
The Super Eagles have arrived in Marrakech ahead of their high-profile 2025 AFCON quarter-final clash against Algeria’s Desert Foxes.
The team landed at the Marrakech-Menara Airport at about 4.14 p.m. on Thursday after a one hour, 14 minutes flight from Fès–Saïs Airport.
The Eagles are camped at the Savoy Le Grand Hotel, Marrakech, where players and officials will stay throughout their assignment.
Promise Efoghe, the team’s Media Officer, told NAN that the squad arrived safely and had shifted focus to recovery and preparation.
“We had a smooth trip from Fès despite the tight schedule, and the focus now is on recovery and preparation,” Efoghe said.
He disclosed that all the media engagements earlier scheduled for Thursday were postponed to allow the players adequate rest.
“Given the late arrival, the players requested time to rest, and we urge everyone to respect that decision,” he said.
Efoghe assured that updates on the team’s programme would be communicated promptly.
(NAN)
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