U-20 Women’s World Cup: We Will Provide Best Venue, Okowa Assures FIFA

As Nigeria bids to host the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2020, Delta Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) that Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, will provide best venue for the tournament.

Okowa gave the assurance on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 in Asaba when FIFA team on inspection of facilities in the stadium visited him, and said that his administration was determined to put in place, any further facility that would be needed for the competition.

While recalling that such international events as the 21st Africa Senior Athletics Competition, Super Eagles matches with Seychelles and Egypt, among others had been hosted at the stadium without any hitch, he said that hosting the world cup would be a great event that would be welcomed by football enthusiasts and all Deltans.

“I am glad that you are here to inspect sporting facilities in our state; as a government, we have continued to do the best we can to develop sporting facilities and we have done very well in that area.

“It is good that you are happy with the facilities we have on ground and the compliments from you will help us to continue to do the best that we can; Asaba and our state generally is peaceful and I want to reassure you that we will do what we have to do if there are areas we need to improve on.

“Asaba is the place to be for this kind of championship; we have the crowd to cheer the teams, receptive people and friendly environment.

“As a state government, we will do everything that we can within our reach, to ensure that we have a successful event,” the governor said.

Earlier, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, had said that the FIFA team was impressed with the facilities they met on ground at the stadium and commended Okowa’s administration for its commitment to sports development, especially, football.

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (middle) in group photograph with the FIFA Facility Inspection Team for the Under 20 Women World Cup, in Government House Asaba.

He disclosed that the team would meet and appraise its findings for necessary observations and approvals to be made.

The FIFA delegation, which is led by Christopher Exley, is billed to visit Asaba, Uyo, Lagos and Benin City to inspect facilities for the 2020 world female football fiesta.