Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, has said it is not in a hurry to move the Super Eagles’ home matches from Uyo to Lagos, insisting that any change of venue will depend on several factors, including the readiness of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The federation’s position comes amid reports that it is considering Lagos as a potential venue for Nigeria’s upcoming home fixture in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their second match of the series.
The NFF is considering hosting the first leg of the upcoming fixtures in Uyo on November 11, while the return leg is tentatively scheduled for November 15 in Zanzibar. However, the dates remain subject to confirmation by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
A senior NFF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the federation was not prepared to relocate the team to Lagos or any other venue at this stage, citing concerns that a sudden change of home ground could affect the players’ performance.
“Lagos is under consideration, but Uyo remains the venue for our games,” the official said.
The official added that the federation would consult the players before making a final decision on a possible move to Lagos. The NFF is also considering organising friendly matches at the newly renovated Teslim Balogun Stadium to evaluate the facilities and gauge the response of local fans before committing to hosting competitive fixtures there.
According to the official, the Super Eagles have played their home matches in Uyo for nearly a decade, making it necessary for the federation to carefully assess the potential impact of relocating the team.
The official also disclosed that the Teslim Balogun Stadium was not yet ready to host an international fixture. The NFF is expected to deploy inspectors to assess the facility once the Lagos State Government completes the renovation work.

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos will target their first win, as they begin the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against Poland at Pitch 4 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat , Morocco, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Nigeria will be hoping to go further than they did in the previous edition, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 following a 4-0 defeat to Italy. The team battled through a tough qualifying campaign, defeating Guinea and Benin Republic to secure their place in Morocco.

They also showed their attacking strength, scoring freely along the way.

Poland, meanwhile, return to the tournament after missing the 2025 edition. Their last appearance was in 2024 in the Dominican Republic, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Korea DPR. This will be the first meeting between Nigeria and Poland at this level, with the Flamingos looking to start their campaign with a win. Nigeria are in Group B alongside Poland, Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR.

A strong start could be key as the 2022 bronze-medallists aim to make a deeper run in the competition.

By Eze Nnadi 

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has urged stakeholders in Nigerian Basketball to bury the hatchet and embrace unity and reconciliation to move the sport forward on the country

Dikko made the appeal on Thursday during the NBBF elective congress at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, where delegates gathered to elect a new board to succeed the outgoing administration of Musa Ahmadu Kida.

 It would be recalled that the NBF had witnessed series of crisis ahead of the election, leading to several withdrawals and court action 

Some of the candidates who witndrewrd from the election, including former D’Tigets star, Ejike Ugboaja and proprietor of Mark Mentors basketball club, Ihovhe Mark, challenged the election, while accusing the NSC of interference and taking actions that were contrary to the boards status 

The NSC chairman described the election as an opportunity to end the divisions that have affected the federation, urging stakeholders to prioritise the growth of the game over individual interests and political differences.

He acknowledged that stakeholders had supported different candidates during the electoral process but insisted that the outcome should mark the beginning of a common front for the development of Nigerian basketball.

He said, “Today is the day to show that we are for basketball. Whatever it is, let’s put the ball stop here and see how we can move forward together as one family

“Somebody is going left, somebody is going right, somebody is going back, but for the next four years, we will be speaking from the same time and the same situation,” he said.

He assured the basketball community of the NSC’s commitment to supporting initiatives that would expand participation, strengthen the domestic leagues and create opportunities for young talents across the country.

His appeal came against the backdrop of disagreements surrounding the NBBF electoral process, with the chairman stressing that collective commitment would be essential to moving the sport forward.

In his remarks, the outgoing president of the NBF, Musa Kida described his time in office as challenging but rewarding, stressing that he was leaving with a sense of fulfilment after dedicating his time, resources and passion to the development of Nigerian basketball.

“It has been a very tight block, but Alhamdulillah, we are here today.

“I personally have given the best shot that I could have. I have invested my time, I have invested my resources and passion in order for us to grow this game. I am stepping down full of pride and with a huge sense of fulfilment.

“I want to assure you that no matter who wins the elections, I will give you my unbiased support when you need it, if you need it, and most especially if you ask for it,” Kida pledged

Kida highlighted the continued organisation of the women’s Premier League and developments in the men’s competition as some of the progress recorded during his administration, expressing hope that the incoming board would build on the existing foundation.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, has emerged as the new president of the NBBF, after he was declared winner of the election on Thursday.

Abdullah secured 48 votes to defeat former Tigers international, Olumide Oyedeji, who polled eight votes.

Also declared was Ugo Udezue, who emerged unopposed as NBBF Vice President, having been the sole candidate for the position.