Super Eagles new boss Jose Peseiro is reportedly unhappy with the state of the pitch at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The MKO Abiola Stadium recently refurbished is now the home for football games played by the national team.
However, a recent report Totori News reveals that Super Eagles boss Peseiro is not pleased with the present state of the pitch.
According to the report, Peseiro inspected the pitch with his team and they were not satisfied.
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The pitch looks good according to sources but may not be in ideal condition for the foreign based players on the team.
Ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone it was reported that Peseiro was shaking his head after the inspection.
The inspection comes days after Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s team Flamingos played a World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Minister of Youth & Sports Sunday Dare has stated that only national teams will have access to the MKO Abiola Stadium going forward.
The statement comes after the League Management Company (LMC) banished Nigeria Professional Football League giants (NPFL) giants Kano Pillars to Abuja after crowd trouble at home against Katsina United.
Mohammed Manga, an official of the sports ministry, told NAN, “The pitch can be used only for matches involving the national teams.
“We have to keep the stadium’s main pitch in good shape for use for international matches involving the national teams.”
Ban on Nigeria vs Sierra Leone
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi explained that the Super Eagles game against Sierra Leone will be played behind closed door.
The ban is imposed by world football governing body FIFA after fans invaded the pitch following the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the World Cup.
In a statement he said, “We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game. It is only a one-match ban, after which they can again start trooping out to support the Super Eagles. The match against Sierra Leone will be without fans as a consequence of what happened after the match against the Ghanaians.
“Nonetheless, we want to urge all our football fans, and indeed all Nigerians, to support the team whichever way they can and pray for success against the Sierra Leoneans on Thursday.”