U-20 Women World Cup: Okowa Assures FIFA Delegation As Team Inspect Asaba Stadium

The delegation of Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) going round cities in Nigeria to inspect facilities for the 2020 world female fooball fiesta have inspected the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Addressing the delegation led by Christopher Exley, Delta Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa assured the team that Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, will provide best venue for the tournament which Nigeria is bidding to host in 2020.

BIGPEN Online reports that Okowa said that his administration was determined to put in place, any further facility that would be needed for the competition.

While recalling that such international events as the 21st Africa Senior Athletics Competition, Super Eagles matches with Seychelles and Egypt, among others had been hosted at the stadium without any hitch, he said that hosting the world cup would be a great event that would be welcomed by football enthusiasts and all Deltans.

“I am glad that you are here to inspect sporting facilities in our state; as a government, we have continued to do the best we can to develop sporting facilities and we have done very well in that area.

“It is good that you are happy with the facilities we have on ground and the compliments from you will help us to continue to do the best that we can; Asaba and our state generally is peaceful and I want to reassure you that we will do what we have to do if there are areas we need to improve on.

“Asaba is the place to be for this kind of championship; we have the crowd to cheer the teams, receptive people and friendly environment.

“As a state government, we will do everything that we can within our reach, to ensure that we have a successful event,” the governor said.

Earlier, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, had said that the FIFA team was impressed with the facilities they met on ground at the stadium and commended Okowa’s administration for its commitment to sports development, especially, football.

He disclosed that the team would meet and appraise its findings for necessary observations and approvals to be made.

Asaba, Uyo, Lagos and Benin City were the cities scheduled for the FIFA delegation to inspect facilities for the 2020 world female fooball fiesta.

Photograph in this story: Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd left); Kaj Heyral (left); Chris Exley (right) and Kliment Teseski, during a courtesy call on the Governor, by the FIFA Facility Inspection Team for the Under 20 Women World Cup, held in Government House Asaba. Photo: JIBUNOR SAMUEL.