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0 The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday launched a groundbreaking transformation of the facilities of the Technical Centre situated in the national capital, Abuja, to meet global standards.
Funded by the world football governing body, FIFA, through its development program, FIFA Forward, to the tune of USD 4,800,000, the expansion will include reconstruction of existing synthetic pitches, the addition of new natural and synthetic grass pitches, and the construction of a modern football hostel to house the various national teams.
The initiative aims to equip Nigeria’s national teams with a world-class facility that supports their development. The upgraded technical centre will serve as a dedicated home for all national teams, reducing accommodation and travel expenses while ensuring better team management and coordination.
Also, the project is designed to enhance football infrastructure, provide top-tier training facilities, and cut operational costs while boosting revenue through sponsorships and marketing.
NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau said: “The NFF is excited about the Players’ Hostel and new training pitches. It is a transformational project around our infrastructure for the national teams, and we are grateful to FIFA for providing the funds for these amazing facilities.
“Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management, but it will also substantially reduce expenditure in these areas and enable us to commit more funds to grassroots development programs.”
The direct beneficiaries of this project include Nigeria’s national teams, youth and women’s squads, league clubs, and academies, while compete on organizers and visiting teams will also gain access to the improved facilities.
On his part, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations officer, Gelson Fernandes, observed, “The main objective of the Forward Program is to ensure top-quality infrastructures that drive football development worldwide. The NFF’s transformation of its Technical Centre is a perfect example—upgrading pitches, building modern accommodations, and creating a true home for national teams. This project is a brilliant one for Nigerian football.
“We’re proud to support and to work alongside the NFF, not only with funding but also by sharing expertise to make this project a reality. Nigeria lives and breathes football, and FIFA is committed to helping the game grow as much as we can,” added Fernandes, who doubles as FIFA Regional Director for Africa.
The FIFA Forward is the largest and biggest sports development programme in the world. It was created in 2016 to redistribute FIFA’s revenues equally among the 211 MAs.
The five main areas where funds are used include Infrastructure, Capacity building, Competitions, National teams and subventions as well as specific projects depending on the needs of the respective MA.
In line with its strategy to make football truly global, by the end of 2026, FIFA will have invested a record-breaking figure of USD 5 billion in football.
