The popularity of the Nest of Champions Uyo as the best stadium in Nigeria will take a notch higher today when
A six-man FIFA/ CAF delegation are expected in Uyo today to inspect the Nest of Champions and related facilities of the stadium ahead of the forthcoming CAF Super League in the continent .
CAF President Patrice Motsepe mooted the idea of a CAF Super League in 2022 for top football clubs in the continent and Enyimba International was chosen to represent Nigeria.
The FIFA/CAF inspection team comprises Mathew Dean Gilasbey from England, Muhammad Feizal Sidat of Mozambique, and Nasiru Sarkintudu of Nigeria. Others are; Ticciati Duccio, Claudio Zanca and Stacchino Ivan all from Italy.
The FIFA/CAF delegation arrived Abuja on Monday and being expected in Uyo today to inspect facilities in three top hotels namely; Ibom Icon Hotels Uyo, Four Points by Sheraton Hotels Ikot Ekpene and Monty Hotels Limited Uyo .
They will also inspect facilities at the Nest of Champions and the training pitch between 5pm-8pm.
After the inspection in Uyo, the FIFA/CAF delegation will return to Abuja for a meeting with the management of Enyimba International and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation before their departure.
The Senior Special Assistant on Sports to Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel, Elder Paul Bassey, confirmed the development : ” I know FIFA/CAF pride themselves with some degree of thoroughness if not I would have dismissed this visit as a formality because Rivers United is presently playing in Uyo under the authority of CAF and Akwa Ibom State under Governor Udom Emmanuel has been tested and applauded when it comes to excellent sports infrastructure, airline of international standard, hotels of repute and top notch medical facilities which are the requirements of hosting international matches.”
Only the Nest of Champions in Uyo and Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja have been considered good enough by the organizers to host the competition and Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba will have to choose which of the venues they want to use as home ground after the inspection by FIFA/CAF delegation.
CAF announced that the African Super League will run on a budget of $200 million and will kick off in August 2023. Half of the budget will be split between the 24 participating clubs, with each team guaranteed a minimum of $2.5 million while the winner will receive a whopping $11.6 million.