The Nigerian football community is currently in an uproar following allegations of Kebbi Stadium fund mismanagement.
The allegations came to the fore after FIFA posted a picture of the Birnin Kebbi stadium on its official social media banner.
Far from being a celebration, the image of the partially completed facility has been widely interpreted by Nigerians as a subtle but stinging critique of the alleged Kebbi Stadium fund mismanagement saga, leading to public outcry and calls for accountability within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The controversy centers on funds disbursed for grassroots development projects under the FIFA Forward Programme.
A prominent football critic, Chinedu Mobike recently alleged that the NFF mismanaged approximately $1.2 million earmarked for two mini-stadium projects in Kebbi and Ugborodo, Delta State.
In a viral video, he claimed the projects remained incomplete despite the funds being released.
Comparing Nigeria’s FIFA-funded projects with those of other nations, Mobike alleged that while “other countries used the funds to truly develop football, Nigeria produced nothing to show.
“The NFF should sit up…There are no active projects promoting football or sports in Nigeria,” Mobike said.
Despite the Birnin Kebbi project reportedly costing $1.18 million and being commissioned in 2023, the facility’s appearance in the global governing body’s banner suggests a project far from meeting international completion standards.
However, reacting to the alleged Kebbi Stadium fund mismanagement, the NFF claimed that all FIFA and CAF funds are tied to specific projects and audited regularly.
It also dismissed the figures circulating online as “fictitious,” maintaining that all FIFA Forward projects are executed in line with global compliance standards.
The statement, retrieved from the NFF website, was titled: “NFF: Monies received from FIFA & CAF are for specific purposes, and audited in every cycle.”
“The monies meant for development purposes are tied to specific projects.
“FIFA Forward funds are properly specified and under strict adherence to financial regulations, compliance, monitoring, and auditing at every stage,” the NFF said.
The Federation cited ongoing FIFA Forward projects such as the NFF/FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, stressing that every phase is verified before funds are released directly to FIFA-approved consultants.
Dismissing the viral reports as “fictitious figures,” the NFF added that those spreading misinformation “would find no reason to seek clout if they had any idea how much it costs to organise a single match of any of the national teams.”
Instead, FIFA’s quiet profile update on Saturday reignited the debate on the alleged Kebbi Stadium fund mismanagement, with many Nigerians reading it as a silent but deliberate signal.
Many questioned how long it would take to fully complete a mini-stadium project that came to light in May 2023, after the groundbreaking event in September 2020 by the former Kebbi governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
Social media erupted with interpretations and comparisons.
Some users viewed FIFA’s action as subtle recognition rather than mockery. One X user, @Poka741997, wrote: “FIFA updating their header is symbolic. It’s recognition for Nigeria, even if the stadium’s budget is modest by international standards.”
Others saw it as a global embarrassment.
User #_AsiwajuLerry commented: “FIFA changed their Twitter header to the $1.2m stadium built by the NFF. Global shame.”
Echoing that sentiment, #OyokunyiOkon added: “This is embarrassing. The NFF should be ashamed that FIFA is showcasing a $1.2 million ‘stadium’ in Kebbi that clearly reflects misplaced priorities and poor accountability.”
Comparing Nigeria’s project to Senegal’s 50,000-seat Stade Abdoulaye Wade, user #FemiOguntayo2 remarked: “Nigerians want to build a world-class stadium with $1.2m… Haba! We know NFF is corrupt but haba na…
“This is Stade Blaise Sené (also known as Stade du Sénégal or Abdoulaye Wade National Stadium) in Diamniadio, Senegal. Its total construction cost was $270 million, funded largely by the Senegalese government and built by Turkey’s Summa Construction Company. FIFA’s way of mocking the NFF. How did they spend $1.2m on that stadium? Exposing the kwaruption in the NFF?”
Another user, #mario99amr29, suggested FIFA’s post was deliberate: “We know what’s at play.
“If FIFA can display this at the expense of other successful projects, maybe it’s a subtle callout. Nigeria vs Kenya: A case study.”
As of press time, FIFA had yet to issue any official comment explaining the use of the Kebbi stadium image on its banner.
