FIFA's Kebbi stadium post sparks NFF controversy

Global football body FIFA has stirred a storm of reactions across Nigeria after showcasing the Birnin Kebbi Stadium project in Kebbi State—a facility co-funded with the Nigeria Football Federation that was said to have cost $1.2m on its official social media pages, PETER AKINBO writes

FIFA on Saturday used an image of the project, dating back to 2023, as the new profile banner on its official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts. The image, showing a half-furnished stadium in Birnin Kebbi, quickly went viral.

Built under the FIFA Forward Programme, the stadium was meant to symbolise progress in grassroots football. But as the photo circulated online, fans flooded social media with outrage and speculation. Some netizens interpreted FIFA’s post as a subtle jab at the NFF, following recent allegations of fund mismanagement.

The uproar comes just days after football critic Chinedu Mobike, via his official Instagram handle @c_mobike, on Thursday, October 23, accused the NFF of squandering millions of dollars meant for infrastructure projects, including its twin project in Delta State.

Mobike, in his viral video, claimed that FIFA gave the NFF “1.2 million dollars for two stadiums”—one in Kebbi and another in Ugborodo, Delta State—which, he alleged, “till today did not see daylight.”

Comparing Nigeria’s FIFA-funded projects with those of other nations, Mobike alleged that while “other countries used the funds to truly develop football, Nigeria produced nothing to show.”

“The NFF should sit up…There are no active projects promoting football or sports in Nigeria,” Mobike said in the video that has since garnered hundreds of thousands of views.

His sentiments echoed across Nigerian social media, with users demanding accountability.

One X user, S.A.L.A.K.O, wrote: “If we have the nuisance to troll the Super Eagles during their matches, we need to scale up that energy in calling out the NFF. How do you spend $1.2M from FIFA to build this chicken farm? How do you spend allocations from FIFA and CAF? Where are the projects?”

Another user, MBAH, added: “We really need to call out the NFF as a country. The level of corruption in Nigerian football is getting out of hand. FIFA gave them $1.2 million to build a stadium, and this is what they came up with? Absolutely shameful.”

The PUNCH reports that the next day, Friday, October 24, 2025, the NFF issued an official statement, which it described as a “fresh clarification to misinformation” by some social media users who claimed the NFF “collects millions of dollars from FIFA annually to misappropriate.”

The statement, retrieved from the NFF website, was titled: “NFF: Monies received from FIFA & CAF are for specific purposes, and audited in every cycle.”

In its October 24 statement, the NFF firmly denied any wrongdoing, explaining that every dollar received from FIFA or CAF is tied to a specific purpose and audited annually.

“The monies meant for development purposes are tied to specific projects. FIFA Forward funds are properly specified and under strict adherence to financial regulations, compliance, monitoring, and auditing at every stage,” the NFF said.

The Federation cited ongoing FIFA Forward projects such as the NFF/FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, stressing that every phase is verified before funds are released directly to FIFA-approved consultants.

Dismissing the viral reports as “fictitious figures,” the NFF added that those spreading misinformation “would find no reason to seek clout if they had any idea how much it costs to organise a single match of any of the national teams.”

But the clarification failed to calm the storm. Instead, FIFA’s quiet profile update on Saturday reignited debate, with many Nigerians reading it as a silent but deliberate signal.

Comparing Nigeria’s project to Senegal’s 50,000-seat Stade Abdoulaye Wade, user @FemiOguntayo2 remarked: “Nigerians want to build a world-class stadium with $1.2m… Haba! We know NFF is corrupt, but haba na…This is Stade Blaise Sené (also known as Stade du Sénégal or Abdoulaye Wade National Stadium) in Diamniadio, Senegal. Its total construction cost was $270 million. FIFA’s way of mocking the NFF. How did they spend $1.2m on that stadium? Exposing the kwaruption in the NFF?”

#SaveNigerianFootball gains momentum

While Mobike’s video reignited calls for reform, the hashtag #SaveNigerianFootball has been trending on X, as users express frustration and hope that collective pressure might finally bring transparency to Nigerian football governance.

The campaign has drawn comparisons to Nigeria’s broader infrastructure challenges, with many pointing to the country’s pattern of abandoned or poorly maintained sports facilities.

From the National Stadium in Lagos—shut for repairs for over five years—to the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, which was recently disqualified by CAF from hosting international matches, Nigeria’s sports infrastructure tells a story of neglect and mismanagement.

The Kebbi stadium controversy is particularly significant because it represents a relatively modest investment that should have been straightforward to complete and maintain. Yet questions remain about the timeline, final state, and ongoing upkeep of the facility.

Pattern of decay

The situation mirrors challenges across Nigeria’s sports landscape. The National Stadium in Lagos, once dubbed “the new Mecca of sports” when commissioned in 1972, has been in various states of disrepair for over two decades. Despite promises from multiple sports ministers, including Sunday Dare, who in 2020 assured the main bowl would be ready by May 2021, the facility remains problematic.

Similarly, the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, constructed at a cost of $360 million for the 2003 Africa Games, has cycled through multiple renovations—including a $1 million facelift by Aliko Dangote—only to fall back into disrepair. CAF’s recent disqualification of the stadium for international matches cited poor pitch conditions and substandard facilities.

The recurring theme is not just insufficient funding but a fundamental lack of maintenance culture. Experts have long argued that Nigeria’s approach to sports infrastructure focuses on construction rather than sustainable upkeep, leading to perpetual cycles of decay and emergency rehabilitation.

As of press time, FIFA had yet to issue any official comment explaining the use of the Kebbi stadium image on its banner. The silence has only fueled speculation, with many Nigerians interpreting it as a pointed commentary on the state of Nigerian football infrastructure.

The controversy has also raised broader questions about accountability in Nigerian sports administration. Despite the NFF’s insistence that all funds are audited and properly accounted for, public trust remains low, particularly given the visible state of sports facilities across the country.

The #SaveNigerianFootball campaign shows no signs of abating, with fans demanding not just explanations about the Kebbi project, but comprehensive accountability for all FIFA and CAF funds received by the NFF over the years. As one social media user put it: “We deserve to know where every dollar goes. Our football’s future depends on it.”

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