Minister of youth and sports development Sunday Dare on Monday directed that the main football pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja be closed to local clubs.
In a statement, the ministry’s spokesman Mohammed Manga said Dare directed with immediate effect that clubs could no longer use the pitch for domestic competitions.
“The pitch can be used only for matches involving the national teams,” he added.
The ministry official said the decision was made by the minister “in order to keep the stadium’s main pitch in good shape for use for international matches involving the national teams.”
The stadium is billed for usage on Thursday by the Super Eagles who will host the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Kano Pillars, for instance, began using the stadium after the club was sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC).
