The National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos is wearing a new look after the football pitch was renovated for the first time in a decade, Saturday PUNCH reports.
The National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos is wearing a new look after the football pitch was renovated for the first time in a decade,Built in 1972 under the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, the sports arena hosted the 1973 African Games, as Nigeria emerged champions for the first time, before it hosted the 1980 AFCON, with the men’s football national team, then known as the Green Eagles, ruling Africa for the first time ever as well.
Afterwards, it became a venue for religious and social gatherings and was taken over by hoodlums popularly known as Area Boys, squatters, hawkers, prostitutes and bar operators. “After preliminary inspections and several weeks of work, rollers have now been deployed to the turf, as work enters a new phase.
“Kudos to everyone involved in bringing back that place to life. I hope to see the Eagles play there someday.”