Lagos wants the Super Eagles back – but the federation is sticking with Uyo for now
After the 3-0 defeat in Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria is fiercely debating where the national team should play at home. Many in Lagos hope for a return to the megacity, but the football federation has ruled it out for the next matches.
What happened
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made clear at the weekend that the Super Eagles will continue to play their home games in Uyo, in the south-east of the country, for the time being. A senior official told Vanguard that Lagos is under consideration, but that changing the familiar venue could hurt the team. The side has played mostly in Uyo for nearly ten years.
The debate was triggered by the 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria have three points from two matches, while Guinea-Bissau lead the group with six. Two games against Tanzania are due in November.
According to the federation, the renovated Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos is not yet ready for an international. Inspectors are to assess it once Lagos State has finished the works. The federation is considering staging friendlies there first to test the facility and gauge the fans' response, and also wants to consult the players.
The mood on the ground
The loss in Bissau hit many fans hard. According to the Nigerian Tribune, supporters on X called the performance embarrassing and criticised coach Eric Chelle's tactics, the federation and even the pitch in Bissau.
In Lagos this has turned into a campaign for the national team's return. A columnist in the Nigerian Observer recalls that the Super Eagles went about 25 years without losing a competitive match at the old National Stadium in Surulere, and attributes this mainly to the pressure of the home crowd. He links the failures of recent years to the loss of that home advantage.
Supporters of the move also cite short journeys via Lagos's international airport, since most players are based in Europe, and the city's football revival: in the new season, three Lagos clubs are in the top flight for the first time in 32 years. In addition, the Confederation of African Football will hold its annual awards in Lagos in December.
Voices from the media
Sources
This article was rewritten from local-language sources. Every statement about the mood is based on the linked reports.