A major cleanup has begun at the Mohammed Goni Moduganari International Stadium in Maiduguri as Borno State moves to expand sporting spaces for youths.

More than 200 staff of the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) were deployed on Wednesday after the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Poverty Alleviation, Comrade Saina Buba, ordered immediate clearance of the facility.

Chairman of the Borno State Football Association (FA) and CAF/FIFA Match Commissioner, Alhaji Babagana Kalli Kachallah Ozogler, said reopening the stadium will help address the shortage of playing fields in the state.
“The stadium can accommodate more than 50 football clubs, giving thousands of youths a chance to train and compete,” he said.

Kalli noted that the Commissioner promptly responded after he raised the need for more sporting grounds. Commissioner Buba also visited the site to assess progress and encourage workers.

Vice Chairman of El-Kanemi Warriors and President of Qatar Football Academy, Alhaji Isa Waziri, supported the exercise with a donation of 100 bags of water to BOSEPA staff.

Until now, the El-Kanemi Warriors Sports Centre remained the only standard pitch used for major matches in the state.