The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially cleared the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to host the U-17 West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B Championship, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
This follows a thorough evaluation of the venue, which was found suitable in every aspect required by CAF for hosting international youth tournaments.
The inspection took place on Monday and covered critical areas such as spectator capacity, playing surface quality, structural integrity, safety protocols, and supporting amenities.
CAF inspectors gave the green light after confirming that the stadium met or exceeded their stringent benchmarks.
The assessment team was led by WAFU’s executive director, Philip Chare, alongside Ganiyu Majekodunmi, chairman of the Ogun State Football Association and board member of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The pair expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s up-to-date features, praising its player-ready locker rooms, fully equipped medical and press zones, high-grade security arrangements, and advanced lighting suitable for televised matches.
Ogun State’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Wasiu Isiaka, hailed the approval as a significant achievement for the state’s sporting vision and ongoing commitment to improving sports infrastructure.
“This validation by CAF confirms that Ogun State’s investment in sports development is bearing fruit,” Isiaka said.
“After hosting the National Sports Festival, we’ve had international friendlies here, and in the next two weeks, we are hosting the third African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships.”
He emphasized that the CAF endorsement reinforces the state’s strategic progress and reflects broader national gains.
“Now, the U-17 WAFU B tournament is coming. It shows that our objectives are being achieved.”
“This is not just a win for Ogun State, but for Nigeria as a whole. The approval puts Nigeria back on the continental map in terms of sports infrastructure and underlines our seriousness in creating facilities that meet global standards,” he added.
