Sports journalist Ayodeji “Pooja” Ogunlana has said Nigeria is still far from meeting global football standards, arguing that no stadium in the country is currently capable of hosting a FIFA World Cup match.
Speaking during the FIFA World Cup Roundup Show, Pooja maintained that Nigeria has significant work to do in terms of football infrastructure and the overall development of the game, despite being one of Africa’s most successful football nations.
According to him, even the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, widely regarded as one of the country’s best football venues, does not satisfy FIFA’s requirements for hosting World Cup matches.
“Infrastructure-wise, I think we have a long way to go. I don’t think there’s any stadium in Nigeria that can host the World Cup. Even Uyo cannot. The facilities in Uyo are like 20 per cent of what you have in Atlanta Stadium or the New Jersey Stadium,” he said.
Pooja also argued that constructing additional stadiums should not be Nigeria’s immediate priority, insisting that many existing facilities are already underutilised because of the country’s weak domestic football culture.
According to him, local league matches rarely attract large crowds, leaving many stadiums inactive except when the Super Eagles play international fixtures.
“We don’t even watch matches in Nigeria. There’s no fan base. It’s a waste of resources. Look at Uyo; apart from Super Eagles games, the stadium is not used to its full capacity,” he stated.
The football analyst further questioned the current quality of the Super Eagles, citing Nigeria’s recent performances against countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, and Morocco as evidence that the national team has struggled to dominate important matches in recent years.
Comparing the standard of football displayed at the ongoing FIFA World Cup with Nigeria’s current level, Pooja said the gap remains enormous, both on and off the pitch.
“The level of football being played at this World Cup is out of this world. Infrastructure-wise, we are not even 10 per cent close to countries like the USA or Morocco,” he added.
Pooja also shared his assessment of Nigeria’s current squad, stating that Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are, in his opinion, the only Nigerian players who would automatically earn a place in the starting lineup of any top African national team.
His comments have since generated debate among football fans, with some agreeing that Nigeria must invest more in stadium infrastructure, grassroots football, and domestic leagues, while others argue that the country still possesses enough talent to compete with the continent’s best despite its infrastructural challenges.