Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has projected a major upgrade of Nigeria’s football infrastructure, saying the country will deliver pitches of a higher standard than those used at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco within the next 18 months.
Pinnick made the claim while addressing stakeholders, insisting that Nigeria has already engaged the same experts responsible for constructing Morocco’s AFCON pitches, but with improved specifications for local conditions.
“The people that built the pitches in Morocco are in Nigeria,” Pinnick said. “What they are doing in Nigeria is an upgraded form of what you saw in Morocco.”
According to him, multiple stadiums across the country are undergoing transformation, with visible results expected before the two-year mark. He listed facilities in Warri, two stadiums in Bayelsa State, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as focal points of the redevelopment drive.
“In 1.5 years, you will see the pitches,” Pinnick added, expressing confidence that the upgraded surfaces would meet international standards and enhance Nigeria’s ability to host major football events.
The former FIFA Council member said the project reflects a broader commitment to improving sports infrastructure in Nigeria, long criticised for poor playing surfaces that affect player safety and match quality.
Nigeria has struggled in recent years to secure hosting rights for major continental competitions due largely to stadium conditions, but Pinnick’s remarks suggest a strategic push to reverse that narrative.
