The Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, now wears a new look ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying match between Nigeria and Liberia on Friday.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the stadium reported that groundsmen and other support staff were seen putting necessary final touches to the facility.
There were also cleaners sweeping the spectators’ stands and the state box, while painters were also busy touching the railings and the stands.
The Nigeria Television Authority Out Station Service (OBS) bus, for official broadcast of the match, was also being mounted, the communication gadgets and the connection cables were also being laid.
The newly installed grass pitch was not left behind as it was wearing a new look with water sprinklers turned on to wet the pitch.
There were banners advertising the match placed at strategic positions within the stadium, while the spectators’ seats were being marked, as required by COVID-19 protocols.
The Chairman, Lagos state Sports Commission (LSSC), Sola Aiyepeku, told NAN that the facility was fully ready to host the match, after necessary preparations had been put in place.
“The road has been a tough ride, but it is a good thing getting our facility ready for the World Cup qualifiers. We have what it takes to prepare the place in readiness for the match.
“Going round on inspection, our facility managers are already on ground, the groundsmen, sweepers, the pitch managers and other logistics, being put in place.
“We are so lucky to have our sport loving governor, who gave his approval, and I want to thank Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for making it happen because he shares our vision.
“If not for Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s vision, we will not have come to this point and also the good thing is that the Super Eagles themselves love Lagos,” he said.
NAN reports that the clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Lone Stars of Liberia will be hosted in Lagos for the second time, after the successful outing of the Eagles in the last AFCON qualifiers in which they triumphed 3-0 against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 5p.m Nigerian time, with Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana as match commissioner, and Kouassi Attisso Attiogbe from Togo as the referee.
The game would also have two other Togolese nationals, Komlan Domenyo Adiwotso , Limna Kabassima, as first and second referees, respectively.
Yelebodom Gado Bodjona, also of Togo, would serve as the fourth official, while Abdellah El Achiri from Morocco would be the referee assessor. (NAN)
