The FIFA Goal Project meant to boost grassroots football development in Nigeria has turned into a source of controversy, as former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick and sports infrastructure firm Monimichelle Sports Construction Company head for a legal showdown over a failed mini-stadium project in Ugborodo, Delta State.
Initiated under FIFA’s Forward 2.0 Programme, the project included the construction of two mini-stadiums in Nigeria — one in Birnin Kebbi and another in Ugborodo. While the Kebbi project has been completed and is in use, the Ugborodo stadium has become mired in delays, allegations of contract breaches, and mutual accusations, leading both parties to consider legal action.
Pinnick: Betrayal of Trust and Local Content
Amaju Pinnick, under whose NFF administration the contract was awarded in 2020, claims the contractor failed to deliver despite receiving over half of the contract sum — $650,000 out of $1.1 million. Pinnick, who championed local content by awarding the Ugborodo project to Monimichelle, alleges that after initial clearing and partial construction of a spectator stand, the contractor stalled.
Pinnick further disclosed that he personally supported the project financially by lending the contractor $100,000 and ₦5 million to continue work. However, with no significant progress and no refund, he petitioned the police, and the matter is now subject to arbitration in Lagos.
“Monimichelle received funding, yet abandoned the project. I’ve done everything to support this legacy initiative for my community, but I won’t allow this to be swept under the rug,” Pinnick reportedly told associates.
He also pointed out that the firm similarly abandoned another project — the Hussey College Warri sports facility — despite being paid over 90% of the contract value. A new contractor is on standby, but Pinnick says he is waiting for the legal dispute with Monimichelle to be formally resolved.
Monimichelle: We Were Set Up to Fail
In response, Monimichelle CEO Ebi Egbe accused Pinnick and the NFF of misleading him and manipulating the project from the start. Egbe said he was asked to sign the contract before inspecting the site and only discovered the harsh terrain — deep in the Atlantic region with no access road — after the handover.
“The project site was moved from Warri to Ugborodo without factoring in cost implications,” Egbe said. “We had to carry out massive land reclamation, site grading, and design adjustments not captured in the original bill of quantities. All of these came at a great cost.”
Egbe also claimed that faulty drawings were handed over to his firm and were only corrected by the NFF’s consultants six months later. Further, he said an independent quantity surveyor evaluation conducted by FIFA, the NFF, and Monimichelle valued the project at over $3.5 million, while his firm had received only $500,000.
“We’ve held meetings with FIFA and NFF. Despite the findings, the NFF has refused to respond to our letters. Pinnick is using this to blackmail me and discredit my brand,” Egbe stated. “We are ready to defend ourselves in court.”
Ugborodo Project: From Promise to Problem
The Ugborodo mini-stadium, originally envisioned as a symbol of inclusion and development for a marginalised oil-rich community in the Niger Delta, now stands abandoned. Critics accuse both parties of turning a noble initiative into a battleground of personal and political interests.
While Pinnick has been cleared of wrongdoing by relevant authorities, his legacy in Ugborodo has been tainted by allegations, particularly from rivals like Harrison Jalla, who accuse him of mismanaging the project — claims Pinnick denies. Their long-standing feud is also playing out in court, where Pinnick has charged Jalla with defamation.
FIFA and NFF: Silent But Watching
The NFF has remained largely silent on the matter, though internal sources suggest the federation is exploring ways to complete the project with another contractor. FIFA, meanwhile, has been briefed on the issue and may take further steps depending on the outcome of the arbitration and potential court proceedings.
As it stands, the Ugborodo mini-stadium — once a beacon of hope — has become a symbol of how miscommunication, trust issues, and poor planning can derail even the most promising development projects. For now, the matter moves from the pitch to the courtroom, with the fate of the project — and reputations — hanging in the balance.
