By George Aluo
Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos has joined the growing list of arenas banned by FIFA and CAF from hosting their matches.
Competent sources said yesterday that the stadium was banned no thanks to the poor nature of its natural grass turf.
With this development, the Super Eagles who has since returned to Lagos may play the last World Cup qualifier in March outside the Centre of Excellence.
But FIFA licensed match agent and stadium construction expert, Ebi Egbe has declared that the Eagles don’t need to leave Lagos.
Egbe whose outfit, Monimichelle constructed the turf of the Onikan stadium (MJA Arena) is advising the NFF to take the Eagles to the Onikan waterfront and see the team dazzle.
“Eagles don’t need to leave Lagos with Onikan there for them to play. The Eagles would dazzle on a hybrid geotech turf which is what they are used to out there in Europe. That is the kind of pitch that supports speed football. A pitch with zero undulation. I have always made this point. And if CAF can okay my turf at the Enyimba stadium in Aba for CAF Champions League games, they would okay Onikan for Eagles. FIFA has no problem with teams playing in hybrid geotech turf. What people should understand is that there is a huge difference between hybrid synthetic pitches and rubber synthetic. And at Monimichelle, we don’t do rubber synthetic pitches,” Egbe stated.
