CAF Approves Venue Change for Nigeria vs Senegal Clash Due to Poor Pitch at Lekan Salami Stadium

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved a request by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to relocate the venue for the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup third-round qualifying match between Nigeria and Senegal. The encounter, which is the first leg of the fixture, was initially scheduled to take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Saturday, February 7, 2026. However, concerns regarding the quality of the playing surface have necessitated a shift to a more suitable location to ensure the game meets international standards.

Ruth David, the NFF’s Director of Competitions, confirmed the development, stating that the match will now be hosted at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. The decision to move the game was driven by the deteriorating state of the pitch at the Lekan Salami Stadium. Although the Ibadan venue had successfully hosted the Falconets during their second-round clash against the Rwanda U20 girls in September of the previous year, recent inspections revealed that the turf has degraded significantly, making it unfit for a high-profile qualifying match of this magnitude.

The change in venue poses a logistical adjustment for the Falconets, who are two-time FIFA World Cup silver medallists. The team had already commenced their training camp in Ibadan in preparation for the crucial tie against their West African rivals. Following the NFF's directive, the squad is expected to relocate to Abeokuta within the coming days. This move is crucial to allow the players ample time to acclimatize to the new environment and familiarize themselves with the turf at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex before match day.

The stakes for this encounter are incredibly high as the Falconets look to secure their spot in the final tournament. The Nigerian side advanced to this stage after a convincing 5-0 aggregate victory over Rwanda in the second round of the African qualification series. A victory against Senegal in this two-legged tie would propel them into the final round of the series, where they would face the winner of the fixture between Guinea Bissau and Malawi.

Ultimately, the goal for the Falconets is to book a ticket to the 2026 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Poland from September 5 to 27, 2026. The NFF remains confident that despite the late change in venue, the team's preparation and morale remain high as they aim to continue their dominance in African youth women's football. The swift approval by CAF highlights the importance of maintaining high facility standards for continental competitions.