By Silvernews
The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Limited, Ebi Egbe, has issued a stern warning to sports administrators in Nigeria, urging them to prioritise proper construction and certification of football pitches in line with FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards to avoid potential embarrassment and sanctions on the continental stage.
Egbe said Nigeria’s stadium infrastructure often comes under serious scrutiny only after major victories, when aggrieved opponents resort to formal protests over pitch eligibility, exposing gaps that are usually overlooked.
According to him, many stadiums across the country currently lack valid FIFA Field Test Certification, a situation that leaves Nigeria vulnerable in CAF-sanctioned competitions.
“In CAF competitions, pitch compliance is not a suggestion; it is a strict requirement,” Egbe stressed. “Any protest backed by CAF inspectors can lead to the invalidation of match results and ultimately damage the country’s football reputation.”
The stadium construction expert revealed that, at present, Remo Stars Stadium is the only football pitch in Nigeria with an active FIFA Field Test Certification, describing the development as a wake-up call for administrators who assume that a stadium’s size or history automatically guarantees approval.
Egbe emphasised that the matter is neither political nor propagandist, but one of standards, proper documentation and strict adherence to international regulations.
He challenged football authorities at all levels to stop “pretending” and instead make deliberate investments in building, upgrading and certifying stadiums if Nigeria genuinely intends to host CAF and FIFA matches with credibility.
Egbe warned that failure to act decisively could see the country lose hard-earned victories off the pitch, undermining years of progress in Nigerian football.
