ABUJA/Nigeria: Nigeria has the potential to emerge as a major sports and entertainment hub in Africa if it adopts a more integrated approach to infrastructure development and invests in retaining the continent’s sporting talent, former FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura has said.
Samoura made the submission in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, where she discussed Nigeria’s sporting potential, the future of sports infrastructure in Africa and her role on the Advisory Board of African Collaborations Group (ACG).
The former FIFA official said Nigeria’s population, sporting talent and cultural influence could position the country to host major competitions, support entertainment productions and develop talents for the international market.
“Nigeria could become a regional hub for major competitions, entertainment productions and talent development,” she said.
Samoura, who served as FIFA Secretary-General from 2016 to 2023, argued that Africa’s sports infrastructure must move beyond the traditional model of constructing standalone stadiums.
She advocated the development of integrated sports and entertainment districts that combine sporting facilities with hospitality, retail, training centres, entertainment venues and community facilities.
According to her, such districts would operate throughout the year, creating opportunities for economic activity and ensuring that sports infrastructure delivers value beyond match days.
“What I find interesting about ACG is that it looks beyond the traditional stadium model, towards sport and entertainment districts that work all year round, combining sport with hospitality, entertainment, retail, training and community facilities,” she said.
The former FIFA secretary-general also raised concerns about the continent’s continuing loss of sporting talent and the limited infrastructure available to nurture and retain athletes.
She noted that while African athletes possess world-class abilities, inadequate facilities and development systems often prevent the continent from fully benefiting from their talents.
“Africa’s sporting talent is world class, but the infrastructure to develop, retain and fully benefit from that talent is still largely absent,” Samoura said.
She called for stronger private-sector involvement in the development of sports infrastructure, stressing the importance of converting Africa’s sporting potential into commercially viable projects, employment opportunities and sustainable economic benefits.
“The real question is how to turn that potential into bankable projects, quality jobs and long-term value for Nigerians,” she said.
Samoura’s comments followed her appointment to the ACG Advisory Board, a development announced earlier in September. ACG describes itself as a strategic project origination platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa.
The organisation’s model centres on bringing governments, development finance institutions, investors and sports stakeholders together to develop financially sustainable sports and entertainment districts designed to operate throughout the year.
According to ACG, the concept originated from the FIFA Task Force for Infrastructure Development in Africa, an initiative established by Samoura during her tenure at FIFA.
Her advocacy adds to ongoing discussions about the role of sports infrastructure in driving economic development, tourism, employment and talent retention across the continent.
Source: APO
