Amokachi demands urgent pitch upgrades across Nigeria

Former Super Eagles forward Daniel Amokachi has called on key figures in Nigerian football to prioritise the upgrade of infrastructure, particularly playing pitches, across the country’s leagues, The PUNCH reports.

Amokachi made the remarks in Abuja on Tuesday at the Nigeria National League, Prostar and Sportslight Hub Awards for November, which were organised to recognise outstanding performances by players, coaches and other participants in the NNL.

He warned that many of the pitches approved for league matches required urgent improvements to meet acceptable standards.

“Although the league continues to make progress, the condition of pitches remains a major challenge. There is still a lot to be done. Our pitches need to be improved. Some of the pitches approved for the league are used mainly because there are no other options,” Amokachi said as quoted by NAN.

According to the former international, the NNL is the foundation of Nigerian football and must provide a safe and professional environment for young players to develop their skills.

He commended the awards initiative, noting that recognising excellence had always served as motivation for players and teams and aligned with global best practices in sports development.

Amokachi also acknowledged some improvements in the league, including an increase in away wins, a higher number of goals and improved prize money, but stressed that more needed to be done to make the competition more attractive.

He noted that the sustained growth of the league depended largely on funding and sponsorship to ensure steady development.

Amokachi also highlighted the role of the media in shaping the league’s image, saying that balanced and consistent reporting could help attract credible sponsors. He lamented the absence of NNL players in the Super Eagles despite the abundance of talent in domestic football and said inadequate promotion limits players’ exposure and recognition both locally and internationally.

He called for collective efforts to attract sponsors, noting that increased support would ease financial challenges and strengthen the league. He also stressed the need for punctuality and strict adherence to match schedules, saying discipline and effective time management would significantly improve league organisation.