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Football journalist Pooja has said Nigeria still has a long way to go before it can compete with the world’s football powerhouses, both on and off the pitch.
Speaking on the FIFA World Cup Roundup Show, he argued that no stadium in Nigeria currently meets FIFA’s standards to host a World Cup match. According to him, even the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo falls well below the level of stadiums in countries like the United States.
Pooja also questioned the need for building more stadiums when many of the existing ones are rarely filled. He noted that apart from Super Eagles matches, most stadiums struggle to attract fans because local football lacks a strong supporter base.
On the national team, he said the Super Eagles have not been convincing in recent years, pointing to underwhelming performances against countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Morocco.
Comparing the quality of football on display at the ongoing FIFA World Cup with Nigeria’s current level, Pooja said the difference is clear. He added that, in his opinion, only Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman would comfortably make the starting lineup of any top African national team, insisting that Nigerian football still has significant work to do in terms of infrastructure and overall development.
