A former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Peterside, has said Nigeria would be ready to host the World Cup in the next 40 years at which the country would have experienced some level of stability
Nigeria’s skepticism about hosting the World Cup is based on the country’s current only grass stadium, the Uyo Stadium. The country’s last hosting was the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2009, with Switzerland emerging as champions and Golden Eaglets taking the runner-up spot.
Former minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola advocated for Nigeria to bid for the premium world football competition, but stressed the rarity of good playing fields as a major setback. Fashola predicted that Nigeria would need up to 40 years to achieve the stability required for such an ambitious project. He emphasized the importance of sporting facilities and the need for proactive steps in sports development.
Peterside lamented the deterioration of Lagos’ national stadium and urged for a return to basics in sports development, as neglecting these facilities could limit Nigeria’s ability to compete on the global stage.
