The global football body FIFA has drawn sharp criticism after using a banner image of the Birnin Kebbi Stadium project on its official social media profiles, fueling accusations of mismanagement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
FIFA replaced its profile banner with a photo of the partially completed stadium, a project jointly funded by FIFA’s Forward Programme and the NFF. The image was quickly circulated across platforms, sparking outrage among football fans and commentators who viewed it as a public rebuke to Nigeria’s football administration.
One critic, Chinedu Mobike, accused the NFF of squandering funds, claiming that “FIFA gave the NFF 1.2 million dollars for two stadiums … which till today did not see daylight.”
In response, the NFF issued a statement titled “NFF: Monies Received from FIFA & CAF Are for Specific Purposes, and Audited in Every Cycle,” insisting that all funds are tied to designated projects and subject to thorough audits. It denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations “fictitious figures.”
The controversial banner update reignited debate over transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s football infrastructure spending, as the unfinished Kebbi stadium has long been a symbol of delayed progress.
