President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has asserted that the history of Nigerian football would be incomplete without a mention of Abia State.
Gusau made this statement during a courtesy visit to the state governor, Alex Otti, in Umuahia, the state capital.
“Abia has been a hub of football, and it is impossible to recount the story of sports in Nigeria without mentioning Abia State. It is the only state in Nigeria that has a club which has won the continental trophy back-to-back,” he emphasised.
Expressing optimism for the Abia Warriors FC’s performance in the upcoming continental competition, he urged Governor Otti to prioritise the renovation of the Umuahia Township Stadium.
The president assured that the NFF would provide the necessary technical support to ensure the stadium is upgraded.
In response, Governor Otti stated that the upgrade of the stadium is a priority and reaffirmed his commitment to establishing a stadium city in the capital.
“Regarding the Umuahia Township Stadium, I recently approved plans to upgrade it and transform it into a modern facility. In the immediate term, we will enhance it to meet standard requirements, while we also have a long-term vision for the Abia Stadium City.
“The land has been acquired, and work is currently underway on the design. This will not just be a stadium; it will be a stadium city, a complex that includes an entertainment village, plazas, a conference centre, and residential apartments.”
