Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has fulfilled a three-decade-old pledge to members of Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning football team by allocating plots of land to three of the state’s football legends.
Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Babayaro, who were members of the historic Atlanta ’96 squad, received the land allocations, while the governor also directed that streets be named after other Kaduna-born members of the team who had yet to be similarly honoured.
Amokachi disclosed this on Tuesday after inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, describing the governor’s gesture as the fulfilment of a promise that successive governments had failed to redeem since Nigeria’s Olympic triumph in 1996.
He said the players had received numerous promises from governments after winning the gold medal but had waited for 30 years before Sani acted.
According to Amokachi, the beneficiaries had little doubt about the governor’s sincerity until the land documents were delivered.
He thanked Sani for also pledging to recognise and reward former footballers, coaches and other veterans while they are still alive.
Lawal, another member of the Olympic-winning squad and former General Manager of Kaduna United Football Club, described the renovated Ahmadu Bello Stadium as a potentially world-class facility capable of meeting FIFA standards when completed.
He said the project would save the Super Eagles and other teams the need to travel outside Kaduna for training and major football activities.
“Now, Super Eagles will not have to go to Uyo to train. Now, this one is right here at my door mouth,” Lawal said.
Babayaro also commended the governor, saying his administration had succeeded in bringing Kaduna’s football community together and reviving interest in the sport.
The former goalkeeper said he initially doubted the land allocation when Lawal sent him the documents, fearing it might be tied to a political event.
He said the absence of any demand for political support or publicity eventually convinced him that the governor’s gesture was genuine.
Responding, Sani praised Kaduna’s football legends, coaches and administrators for their contributions to the development of sports in the state.
The governor said Kaduna had historically produced numerous football stars who went on to achieve international recognition, adding that his administration was determined to restore the state’s prominence in sports.
Sani said the deteriorating condition of Ahmadu Bello Stadium prompted him to approach President Bola Tinubu for approval to take over the facility and rebuild it.
He said the old stadium, constructed in 1964 with a seating capacity of 16,000, had deteriorated significantly and had not hosted a CAF football tournament since 2016, when the Super Eagles played Egypt there.
According to him, the rebuilt stadium will have a 33,000-seat capacity and feature a hybrid playing surface combining natural grass and synthetic turf.
Sani said the project was part of the state’s broader investment in sports infrastructure, stressing that major sporting events could generate significant economic benefits through hospitality, transportation and other sectors.
He cited the revenue generated by the 2026 World Cup in the United States and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco as examples of the economic opportunities associated with sports.
The governor said Kaduna’s renewed investment in football infrastructure was therefore aimed not only at restoring the state’s sporting heritage but also at positioning it to benefit economically from major competitions.
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