A FIFA team on Wednesday began a nationwide inspection of facilities for October’s Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria but kept mum on their impression of facilities in Ijebu Ode.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team led by John Schumacher, said they would not make their findings known until they concluded their assignment next week with inspection of facilities in Lagos.
However, FiFA’s Communications Manager in charge of Under-17, Wolf Gangresch, told reporters that the world soccer governing body had a cordial relationship with the federal and state governments in the nine states and the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Gangresch said it was only the three bodies that the delegation would inform, “what needed to be modified, changed or improved upon.”
He said the delegation would discuss on what areas needed to be worked upon with the relevant authorities.
The LOC Vice-Chairman/CEO, Mainasara Illo, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations in Ijebu Ode, especially with the playing turf and the electronic scoreboard.
Illo, however, expressed concern over medical and security aspects of the Ijebu Ode centre, advising that more floodlight bulbs be installed.
He said no decision had yet been taken on whether to have six or all the nine centres jostling to host matches of the world cadet championship.
NAN reports that Abuja, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ijebu Ode, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Warri have lined up to get the world soccer body’s nod to host matches of the biennial soccer event in Nigeria.