By Joy Onu
Nigeria has the potential to become a leading sports destination in Africa if stakeholders commit to working together with focus and unity, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has said.
According to a press release issued by Ben Ogbemudia, Special Assistant on Media to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Shaibu made the remarks in Rabat, Morocco, shortly after Nigeria’s 4–2 penalty defeat to the host nation in the semifinals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He called on Nigerian sports administrators to learn from Morocco’s remarkable progress, particularly the country’s strategic investment in modern sporting infrastructure.
“We, as leaders in Nigeria, myself included, must recognize that traveling is also a form of education,” Shaibu said. “When we visit countries like Morocco, we should observe their best practices and bring them back home to improve our own system.”
Highlighting Morocco’s rapid rise in sports development, he said the North African nation is now setting the pace on the continent.
“Morocco has gone very far. When we went to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, I thought their facilities were advanced, but what I have seen here in Morocco surpasses that. From WAFCON to now, Morocco has demonstrated deliberate efforts to dominate African sports while attracting global attention. The stadiums we played in are impressive, and the surrounding infrastructure including road networks and crowd management is world-class. Nigeria still has a long way to go,” he said.
Shaibu also commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his foresight in developing sports infrastructure in Nigeria but lamented the failure of past administrators to sustain those investments.
“I appreciate Former President Obasanjo for building the Moshood Abiola International Stadium in Abuja. The facilities were world-class and reflected a vision similar to what Morocco is achieving today. Unfortunately, those investments were not sustained. Today, the stadium is neglected, overrun by rats, lizards, and religious activities rather than sporting events,” he said.
The NIS boss further condemned the unpatriotic conduct of some Nigerians during the semifinal clash, noting that many resold tickets allocated to them to Moroccan fans.
“Nigerians needed to support their team, yet some chose to sell their tickets for profit. The support of fans can influence any player, no matter how professional. If Nigeria must truly become a top sports destination, there must be a collective change in mindset and responsibility from leadership to ordinary citizens,” he said.
Shaibu emphasized that Nigeria’s emergence as a premier sporting nation is achievable if leaders and citizens unite, manage resources effectively, and prioritize the development and maintenance of sporting infrastructure.
