One of the hallmarks that has added the success of Hon. Sunday Dare as Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister is the unprecedented revamp of sports infrastructures in the country.

Since the start of Sunday Dare’s tenure, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja has been revived and has gone on to pass the FIFA and CAF test, as it has hosted a number of international matches. Also, the National Stadium, Surulere which was abandoned for years is on the verge of being completely turned around. Moreso, the Daura Township Stadium has been transformed for the utilization of about 45 teams in the area, after the famous ground was left to rot. The Ahmadu Bello Stadium and other facilities are also set for transformation under the wholesome plans of the ministry, led by Hon. Sunday Dare.

Speaking on this infrastructure development drive, Sunday Dare said “we came to the realization that at the heart of sports development is to have infrastructures and facilities that are befitting for such lofty ambitions. So my team and I, set out a grand plan to change the narrative on sports infrastructures in Nigeria”.

“Due to the capital-intensive nature of these projects, we engaged the private sector to see how we could leverage on public-private partnerships and we brought the private sector on board”.

One of the transformed infrastructures is the Moshood Abiola Stadium. A once abandoned edifice has now hosted the Super Eagles, the Super Falcons, the Falconets (U-20 Girls), the Flying Eagles (U-20 Boys), the Flamingoes (U-17 Girls), Golden Eaglets (U-17 Boys), as well as NPFL Matches, all in the space of one year. The stadium is also compliant with the VAR technology, modern FIFA-approved technical and players’ bench amongst others.

Answering further, the Minister said, “when we started, we visited FIFA, and at that point, we all agreed that a football nation as big as Nigeria cannot be suffering a huge gap in Infrastructures and we set out to correct this anomaly. We are not where we want to be, but we will not stop working to get as many facilities as a possibile up to scratch. We are not just upgrading our facilities, we are also putting up maintenance deals because this is the only way to guarantee their longevity”.

While this drive continues, one could posit that, in the coming years, Nigeria will be able to compete with contemporaries on its sporting infrastructures.

As anticipated, the encounter started on a very sound footing by both teams, but the visitors drew the first blood when they went ahead fifth minute on the clock, after Ifeanyi Okoye’s reckless charge was spotted and a foul awarded to the visitors, meters away from the box; NPFL veteran, Rabiu Ali picked up the ball, placed it in a good position and sent a curling shot into the net, leaving Lucky Abdullahi bewildered as the entire stadium watched in in absolute amusement. Legend Indeed!

Tornadoes were forced to make an early change as Lucky Abdullahi looked demoralized and jittery since conceding the goal, George Michael replaced him on the fifteenth minute.

The hosts took control of the game and dominated proceeding with no goals to show as the team lacked the much needed cutting edge, forcing the technical bench to make double substitutions as Munir Idris and Mas’ud Danjuma were introduced.

The hosts were awarded a Free kick after a reckless challenge on David Emmanuel on the edge of the box, but Adeyinka Najeem’s free kick went over the bar.

Another begging chance went the way of
Jonas Emmanuel but his long range volley was smartly parried by goalkeeper Bassey Akpan as the Ikon Allah Boys went into the break behind.

Tornadoes continued from where they left off at half time, as they resumed with similar urge in a bid to find the leveler, pressure paid off 52nd minute on the clock when Jonas Emmanuel benefited from Munir Idris’ pass off a good team play, as he fired a low shot into the net, to restore parity, in what was his fifth goal of the season, second since joining the Ikon Allah Boys.

Twice Munir Idris came close to grabbing a second but was intercepted inside the box and moments later, his free kick sailed over inches away.

In the dying moment of the game, 90th minute on the clock, Munir was set free on goal, in a one-on-one situation with the Bassey Akpan in goal for the visiors, but in an attempt to pull a save, the goalkeeper fouled speeding Munir inside the box and the referee was left with no choice than point to spot kick. Musa Wakili conveterted from the spot in a dramatic fashion to send the entire stadium into raptures.

Five home matches, five wins. A fortress!

*Munir Idris put the National Team disappointment behind and proved quite important to the team, as he was instrumental to the two goals, an assist and a late minute penalty.
*An outstanding performance by Sunday Akinmoladun the (Birthday Boy) to prove his leadership mettle and total commitment at the heart of defence.
*Jonas Emmanuel, again, Fantastic, full of potential. A lot more is expected from the versatile forward.
*Musa Wakili, another substitute appearance, another goal. He has proved quite instrumental to the teams quest to beat the drop. Fourth goal of the season. SUPER SUB.
*Overall an outstanding team performance.

SUBSTITUTIONS:
15′ George Michael In, Lucky Abdullahi Out.
35′ Masud Danjuma In Segun Alebiosu Out,
Edoh Ocheme Out, Munir Idris In.
72′ Mohammed Sani Rabiu In, Masud Danjuma Out. Musa Wakili In, David Emmanuel Out.

UNUSED:
Bolaji Adeyemo
Abdulrazak Yusuf
Nasiru Aliyu Laba

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Alhassan Mohammed Kutigi
Media Officer,
Niger Tornadoes FC, Minna