The Super Eagles could move away from the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo as early as next year, with plans to overhaul the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja offering Nigeria’s senior national team a potential alternative home ground.
According to a report by Soccernet on Friday, October 9, 2026, the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that work is underway to transform the Abuja stadium into a world-class sporting facility.
Speaking at an event on Wednesday, Dikko said the government had awarded contracts for the renovation project, with international companies involved in plans to deliver a top-quality playing surface.
“The same people who did the pitches at the San Siro and the Santiago Bernabéu are the ones handling the Abuja pitch,” Dikko said.
He explained that samples of water and sand had been sent to Europe for testing to ensure the quality of the grass to be installed at the stadium.
Dikko added that the project would extend beyond the playing surface to include the complete reconstruction of the athletics tracks and dressing rooms, two new training pitches, a media centre and improvements to the players’ hostel.
The NSC chairman said the target was to have the facilities ready by March 2027, ahead of upcoming fixtures, although the scale of the proposed renovation raises questions about whether the deadline can be met.
Dikko also disclosed that the government was working with several state governments to improve sporting facilities across the country.
According to him, discussions and projects involving Borno, Kaduna, Oyo, and Enugu are part of a broader plan to expand Nigeria’s capacity to host international football matches.
He expressed hope that between the middle and end of 2027, Nigeria would have between five and eight stadiums capable of hosting international fixtures.
If successfully completed, the projects could give the Super Eagles more options for their home matches instead of relying heavily on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Uyo has served as a dependable home base for the Super Eagles in recent years, hosting several important international fixtures, including their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
However, occasional concerns have been raised about the condition of the playing surface at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, with the pitch sometimes cited as a factor affecting the team's performances.
A renovated Abuja stadium with a high-quality playing surface and improved training and accommodation facilities could provide the national team with another suitable venue.
It would also make international matches more accessible to supporters in different parts of the country, particularly those in the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding states.
Nevertheless, the proposed move remains uncertain.
The completion of the Abuja renovation project will be crucial to determining whether the Super Eagles can begin playing their home fixtures at the stadium next year.
For now, Nigeria are expected to continue using the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo while stakeholders await the completion of the planned upgrades in Abuja.
https://soccernet.ng/2026/10/super-eagles-uyo-abuja-stadium.html
