FORMER presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of failing to deliver a promised FIFA-funded stadium in Awka, Anambra State, a revelation that comes amid mounting allegations of widespread financial mismanagement within the football governing body.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports tht in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Obi said officials from the Sports Federation had informed him during his tenure as governor that Anambra had been selected as one of six locations across Nigeria to host a FIFA-standard stadium, fully funded by FIFA and executed through the Federal Ministry of Sports.
According to him, his administration promptly allocated land for the project, believing the development would boost sports infrastructure and youth engagement in the state.
“We immediately allocated land for that purpose, and they assured us that the project would be executed through the Federal Ministry of Sports. That was the last we heard of it,” Obi said.
“Believing that such a major project was underway, we channelled our resources toward constructing mini-stadiums across the state to encourage grassroots sports. We commissioned the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium and the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha South, among others.”
Obi lamented that the FIFA project never materialised, describing it as another “blatant squandering of opportunities” for Nigerian youth. He said a deeper probe into the matter would likely expose “even worse realities than what we currently know.”
Obi’s remarks come amid intensifying scrutiny of the NFF following multiple allegations of misused FIFA and CAF funds — claims that have once again thrown Nigeria’s football administration into controversy.
The uproar began with former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh’s explosive revelation on the Home Turf podcast, where he accused the NFF of diverting $1 million intended as bonuses for players following Nigeria’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
According to Oliseh, the money, which was meant to reward the qualifying squad, never reached the players, with several team members excluded from the final tournament list.
The revelations have triggered a wave of public outrage, with football fans and analysts on social media calling for a forensic audit of all FIFA and CAF grants disbursed to the NFF over the past decade. Critics argue that despite receiving millions of dollars annually for football development, Nigerian stadiums remain in poor condition and referees have failed to secure invitations to major continental competitions like the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Central to the latest debate is the Birnin Kebbi Mini Stadium, which FIFA recently showcased on its social media as part of its development projects in Nigeria. However, fans and observers criticised the facility for its substandard condition despite the significant funding allocated for its construction.
In response to the mounting allegations, the NFF released a statement insisting that all funds received from FIFA and CAF are tied to specific projects and undergo annual external audits.
“The funds are tied to specific purposes under strict adherence to financial regulations, compliance, monitoring and auditing at every stage of the project or programme,” the federation stated.
Sports broadcaster Wale Agbede told an online publication that while FIFA sends auditors to verify fund use, tangible evidence of completed development projects remains minimal.
“It’s a whole lot of money, almost $25 million in the last 10 years,” Agbede said. “It’s hard to pinpoint any developmental projects the NFF has started and completed.”
Adding to the confusion, Kebbi State Football Association Chairman, Abubakar Ladan, clarified that while the state government provided the land, the Birnin Kebbi Mini Stadium is managed solely by the NFF.
“Since its commissioning, the stadium has hosted several competitions, including the 2024 Governor’s Cup and National League One matches,” Ladan said.
“In other countries, when conversations like this come up, there’s usually a committee or Congress that steps in,” Agbede said. “Nigeria should follow suit to ensure accountability.”