Following a final venue inspection tour, Fifa has today confirmed the cities which will host the Fifa Under-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009.
The cities are as follows: Abuja, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ijebu-Ode, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos. Warri has been excluded from use during the competition.

“I was pleased to see that the venues have made significant progress since my last visit in May. They now meet the basic stadium infrastructure requirements of Fifa and thus can be confirmed for the competition,” said Jack Warner, Fifa vice-president and chairman of the Fifa organising committee for the U17 World Cup.

“What impressed me even more than the infrastructural improvements was the passion and the commitment the people of Nigeria have shown. I congratulate the federal government and the state authorities, the local organising committee as well as the communities in the cities for what they have achieved.

The legacy which was created will last far beyond the upcoming tournament. I am therefore proud to say that Nigeria is ready to host the Fifa U17 World Cup.”

A few of the venues need some additional work which Fifa has approved and has agreed to monitor over the next few days.

With regards to Warri, Warner added: “Despite special efforts by Fifa to provide additional time, advice and opportunities to raise the quality of the facilities to a level that would meet the requirements of hosting matches of the Fifa U17 World Cup, the delivery had fallen far below the necessary level.
http://www.supersport.com/football/article.aspx?headline=Fifa%20announces%20venues%20for%20U17%20WC&id=310985

I fear for the Warri venue. . . God dey, common sense sef dey.

Fear of Militants no make dem pass WARRI fit to hold matches

Fear of Militants wahalaoooooooooo

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Yes o! Fear of militants no go fit make fifa approve warri stadium.

The fear of the militant is the beginning of wisdom

So you people are expecting the guy to name militants as the reason why they are not going for warri?

They will not say it like that naa, the man put it the best way that will be less sensititive to warri people.

Diplomacy and shrouding the true reason in a lot of english bullisht.

Did I see Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano, ? Even after the recent Boko Haram incident?
I am sure even Jack Warner will not even step into those states, I seriously dont think it is safe o! At least not yet

yes oh.but the militants in the niger delta are 100times better then the stupied boko haram islamist.abi watin una think?

if the exclusion of Warri was all about fear of militants then i wonder what informed the choice of Bauchi. Boko Haram perhaps?

It is a pity for Warri, despite the effort made by the state Government.

If bauchi qualified and warri didn't what are the standards fifa employed in deciding what the venues will be?
I hope fifa isn't playing politics with the world cup. Perhaps they'll make the standards public, so as not to further aggravate ethnic tensions.

Does anybody have pictures of the stadiums picked? I think we all have seen the Abuja stadium

safariman:

Does anybody have pictures of the stadiums picked? I think we all have seen the Abuja stadium

the others are not as good as abuja's as y'all should know

The earlier the better

Let us not destroy our image globaly
as they have already take us to be

the fear of Warri the safety of Nigeria Dignity

Which group are we and which countries are there? Its being shown now but i cant watch.

Happy we made it at the nick of time.

I bet meeting the "basic stadium infrastructure requirements of FIFA" means Naija scored C- or D. Anyway, we thank God say we no Carry-Over sef!

Hi guys niger against germiny.Wat do u all tink

All the stadias are cool, Warri will host come another time, let them take heart.

militant wahala

Thank you FIFA

I think nigeria was placed in a tough group.

Up FIFA

I think IF the fear of MEND is the disapproval of Warri, then Boko Haram did not pose a security treat to the FIFA

davidylan:

if the exclusion of Warri was all about fear of militants then i wonder what informed the choice of Bauchi. Boko Haram perhaps?

Boko Haram attacking police officers not kidnapping innocent foreign workers for ransom money.
They difference is profound; if you and others don't see it stay blind.

we thank FIFA for givin us the hosting rights.

Very good!! I hope this will be a lesson to the Niger-Delta citizens that nothing good will come from allowing militants to operate freely in their states. They have the militants 2 blame for not hosting.

As for Boko haram, they'r just a bunch of disorganised illiterates. They shouldnt be a problem anymore.

up up fifa!