Poor sports infrastructure threatening Nigeria’s talent pipeline — Mouktar Mohammed

The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT) Football Association, Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has warned that Nigeria risks continued inconsistency in producing talents for national and international competitions unless urgent and sustained investment is made in sports infrastructure and grassroots football development. Speaking during a media parley with sports journalists in Abuja on […]

The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT) Football Association, Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has warned that Nigeria risks continued inconsistency in producing talents for national and international competitions unless urgent and sustained investment is made in sports infrastructure and grassroots football development.

Speaking during a media parley with sports journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Mohammed said the deteriorating state of sports facilities across the country remains one of the biggest barriers to football development, despite Nigeria’s large pool of young and promising athletes.

He noted that the shortage of functional pitches, combined with the gradual disappearance and neglect of community sports centres, is already limiting player development and reducing opportunities for young footballers to grow, compete, and refine their skills.

 “I have always said it has to be organic. We cannot manufacture and suddenly find ourselves in the Premier League.

“As usual, we always promise the statutory responsibilities that we are obliged to undertake and then any additional innovation or possibilities that permit us. Importantly, what we promised as a board is continuity, stability and sustainability.

“We have laid the foundation by creating the right environment, which is why we are witnessing an upsurge in properly structured academies. What we need now is for investors to come in, support these initiatives and help take football development in the FCT to the next level,” he said.

To address the growing infrastructure gap, Mohammed proposed the establishment of a sports development tax fund modelled after the education tax system.

He said such a dedicated funding structure would ensure sustainable investment in sports facilities.