NFF officials visit Bauchi to inspect ATB Stadium for Wikki’s CAF competition matches

The Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday in Bauchi began conducting an inspection of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium ahead of an inspection visit by the Confederation of African Football.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the venue is the home ground of Bauchi-based Wikki Tourists Football Club who is campaigning in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup competition.
The inspection team, led by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Head of Communications, told NAN the team was in Bauchi on behalf of CAF to conduct a pre-inspection on its behalf.
Olajire said: “The team will make recommendations to CAF on the state of facilities at the stadium and the hotels meant to accommodate players and officials during the tournament.”
He said the inspection visit would also give CAF the opportunity to point out to the facilities’ owners what was lacking and the need to put them in place.
Olajire said having the facilities that meet CAF standards would enable Wikki Tourists, the state-owned club, that play their home matches before their Bauchi fans.
He however recalled that the stadium hosted series of international tournaments in the past with impeccable facilities.
He said: “Some of the facilities may have gone into a state of decay and need replacement.”
Wikki will play their first match in the continental competition on February 16 against Real Armed Forces in Sierra Leone, with the second leg tie in Bauchi a week later.
Olajire said: “We are expecting that the stadium will be ready in three and a half weeks’ time to enable Wikki Tourists play here in Bauchi.
“The CAF officials will be here in Bauchi the week Wikki will be in Sierra Leone to finally inspect the stadium for the match.”