2026 Niger Gov’s Cup: NSFA pay two days facilities inspection visit to Suleja
The Niger State Football Association (NSFA) has conducted an extensive inspection of sports and ancillary facilities in Suleja Local Government Area as part of preparations for the 2026 Niger State Governor’s Cup football competition.
The inspection team, led by the FA Chairman, Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, was in Suleja on Wednesday and Thursday, assessing critical infrastructure required to host the prestigious state football tournament. Facilities inspected included football pitches, hotel accommodations, medical services, and emergency response arrangements.
The team’s first stop was the Suleja Local Government Secretariat, where they held a meeting with key council officials, including the Director of Social Welfare, Alhaji Mustapha Zubairu and the Supervisory Councillor for Sports, Youth and Empowerment, Him Marafa Madallah. The engagement provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss expectations and requirements for hosting the competition.
Speaking during the meeting, Comrade Yusuf Fresh explained that the visit was aimed at evaluating Suleja’s readiness and capacity to stage the tournament. He recalled that during the 2024 edition held in Lapai, Suleja had indicated interest in hosting the 2025 edition but eventually lost the bid to Borgu Local Government.
He noted that despite fresh expressions of interest from Bida Local Government and a joint hosting proposal by Chanchaga and Shiroro Local Governments, the FA deemed it appropriate to offer Suleja the right of first refusal before considering other contenders.
The FA Chairman emphasized that the inspection would focus on key areas such as the quality of playing pitches, availability of standard hotel accommodations, adequacy of medical and emergency services, as well as the level of security within the local government. He added that engagements with heads of security agencies would play a decisive role in the final selection process.
Other members of the FA board who accompanied the team also contributed to discussions, offering professional insights on how to ensure a hitch-free and successful tournament if Suleja is eventually granted hosting rights.
In their separate remarks, the council’s Director of Social Welfare, Mustapha Zubairu and the Supervisory Councillor for Sports, Youth and Empowerment, Hon. Marafa Madallah, expressed appreciation to the NSFA for the inspection visit.
They conveyed the excitement of the Council Chairman, Hon. Isiyaku Bawa Na’ibi, describing the visit as a positive step towards securing the hosting rights.
They further assured the FA of the council’s strong commitment to meeting all stipulated requirements, stressing that Suleja is fully prepared to provide the necessary facilities and logistics to host the state’s premier football competition.
As part of the exercise, the inspection team visited selected hotels, football pitches, and medical facilities, while also holding consultations with the Suleja Area Commands of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
At the end of the visit, the NSFA team assured the council that a comprehensive report outlining its findings, including areas requiring improvement, would be communicated ahead of the tournament later in the year.
Borgu Local Government, which hosted the 2025 edition, currently holds the title as defending champions of the competition.
