Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s sports minister, has ordered the main pitch at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja to be closed.
After Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro complained about the poor state of the playing surface after Sunday’s training session, Dare made the decision.
Kemifilani gathered that on Monday, the Super Eagles did not train on the pitch so that groundsmen could prepare it for Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Sierra Leone Stars.
They had their practice on Monday at the stadium’s practice pitch.
“The pitch can only be used for matches involving national teams,” a sports ministry official, Mohammed Manga, told NAN.
“We have to keep the stadium’s main pitch in good shape for use for international matches involving the national teams,” he said.
Kano Pillars, a Nigerian Professional Football League club, will have to find a new home stadium as a result of the development.
Following crowd trouble in their home match against Katsina United, the League Management Company sent the Sai Masu Gida to Abuja.
