By Kunle Solaja.

The roadmap to the September 2026 elections of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will come into sharp focus on Monday as stakeholders converge on Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for the federation’s Extraordinary General Assembly.

The high-level meeting, scheduled for 23 March at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Government House, is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the electoral process that will usher in a new leadership for Nigerian football later this year.

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, will declare the assembly open, setting the tone for deliberations that are widely seen as critical to the integrity and transparency of the forthcoming elections.

Key government and sports administration figures expected at the congress include National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko; Director General, Bukola Olopade; Senate Committee on Sports Chairman, Abdul Ningi; and House of Representatives Committee on Sports Chairman, Kabiru Amadu.

As with previous congresses, the gathering will bring together chairmen and secretaries of football associations from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside members of the NFF Executive Committee and management. Representatives of the domestic leagues, the Coaches Association, Referees Association, and the Players’ Union will also be in attendance.

NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, is expected to deliver the welcome address before proceedings shift to the business session, where the electoral framework will take centre stage.

At the top of the agenda are proposed amendments to the NFF Statutes, Electoral Code, and the Standing Orders of the General Assembly—key regulatory instruments that will govern the September polls.

 The Congress is also expected to constitute the NFF Electoral Committee and the Electoral Appeals Committee, two bodies central to the conduct and adjudication of the elections, as well as appoint an Independent Auditor.

The presence of observers from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football further underscores the significance of the assembly, with global and continental football authorities keeping close watch on the processes leading to the NFF elections.

With major statutory and electoral decisions on the table, Monday’s congress is widely regarded as the starting point in the build-up to what promises to be a keenly contested leadership race in September.

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By Kunle Solaja.

Sixty-eight years after the foundation was laid for what became the first modern stadium in West Africa, the historic Liberty Stadium, now known as Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, stands today as a symbol of Nigeria’s sporting heritage, though largely sustained by memories of its glorious past.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, marks 68 years since the foundation-laying ceremony of the iconic arena conceived by the government of the former Western Region to commemorate the region’s attainment of self-government. The stadium was later renamed after the region’s premier, Obafemi Awolowo, whose administration championed the project.

Despite its historical significance, the once-celebrated sporting complex has suffered decades of neglect, particularly after its takeover by the Federal Government in 1976. Today, the arena that once earned the reputation as the “Pride of Africa” largely survives on memories of the landmark events it hosted.

The Nigerian national team last played at the stadium on July 9, 1983, defeating Togo 2–1 in a qualifying match for the 1984 Summer Olympics football tournament.

Liberty Stadium occupies about 40 acres of a 75-acre hillside site that rises gradually toward the northeast summit. Construction of the facility cost £521,050, with an additional £38,000 spent on land acquisition and £35,000 on building the approach road.

The idea for the stadium was conceived in 1957 by Gabriel Akin-Deko, then the Western Region’s Minister of Agriculture. The regional government subsequently established a planning committee comprising ministers and sports administrators, including J.O. Adigun, J.O. Oshuntokun, and J.O. Adebiyi, alongside athletics representatives Chief J.O. Ajiwunmi and J.B. Ojo.

The stadium was designed by chartered architect J.E.K. Harrison in collaboration with the Western Region Ministry of Works and Transport. Construction was carried out through direct labour by the ministry, with structural engineering support from Ove Arup and Partners and steel works executed by the Nigerian Steel Construction Company.

Officially opened on September 30, 1960—on the eve of Nigeria’s independence—the stadium quickly established itself as a major sporting venue. Its first international match came two days later when the Ghana national football team defeated Mali 5–1 in a semi-final match of the Kwame Nkrumah Cup on October 2, 1960. Ghana’s Aggrey Fynn scored after 15 minutes, becoming the first player to score in a full international match at the venue.

The stadium also hosted Nigeria’s first floodlit football match on October 11, 1960, when the Western Region team, Western Rovers, defeated Portuguese Guinea—now Guinea-Bissau—3–2.

Technologically advanced for its time, the stadium featured an underground drainage system designed to disperse heavy rain without flooding the pitch. The playing surface was meticulously maintained by Joseph Ogunyemi, the first Nigerian trained and appointed as stadium manager.

Before assuming the role in December 1959, Ogunyemi underwent 18 months of specialist training at major British sporting venues, including Wembley Stadium and White City Stadium, as well as the athletics ground of the University of London. He also attended technical courses in Paris and at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

However, his departure coincided with the gradual deterioration of the once-lush playing field, which became plagued by aridity, weed encroachment and neglect, symbolic of the wider decline of the historic facility.

Today, as Liberty Stadium marks another anniversary, it remains a monument to a visionary era in Nigerian sports infrastructure, one whose legacy still resonates even as the facility awaits meaningful revival.

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Nigerian footballer Daniel Daga has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Norwegian court after being found guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by the Nordmøre og Romsdal District Court following a case linked to an incident reported in April 2025.

According to Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, the 19-year-old midfielder was also ordered to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner (about $900) in legal costs, a sentence that reportedly aligned with the prosecution’s request.

Daga, who plays for Molde FK, has denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal the decision.

His lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the player was deeply disappointed with the ruling and insists the encounter was consensual.

“He is very upset about the verdict. He believes he is innocent and that everything happened with consent,” Bolstad said, adding that the verdict is not yet legally binding and will be challenged.

Under Norwegian legal procedures, the case remains open until the appeal process is concluded.

Club Responds

Molde FK confirmed it was aware of the court’s decision and said the player would not be included in the club’s matchday squad for the time being.

“This is a very difficult case for everyone involved,” the club said in a statement.

“As an employer, Molde Football Club has a responsibility to take care of our employees in a responsible manner while also having great respect for the seriousness of the case and the burden it places on all affected parties.”

The club had earlier suspended Daga from training and matches in December 2025 while the legal proceedings were ongoing.

Rising Nigerian Prospect

Daga joined Molde ahead of the 2025 season from Enyimba FC, one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs.

Before moving to Europe, he had featured in the Nigeria Premier Football League after earlier spells with FC One Rocket and Dakkada FC.

At international level, the midfielder represented the Nigeria U‑20 national team and was the youngest player named in the squad for the 2023 FIFA U‑20 World Cup.

He started every match for Nigeria until the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by South Korea.

Since arriving in Norway, Daga has made 17 appearances for Molde, scoring three goals and establishing himself as one of the promising young African players in the Scandinavian league.

Reaction from Fans

The case has generated strong reactions among Nigerian football fans, many expressing shock and disappointment while drawing comparisons with similar incidents involving young African players in Europe.

Some supporters have also highlighted the broader challenges faced by emerging African talents playing abroad.

For now, Daga’s immediate future in Norwegian football remains uncertain as he prepares to challenge the court’s decision through the appeal process.

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