FIFA name final venues May 21 By john joshua-akanji

The world football governing body, FIFA, currently in the country on a final inspection of facilities for the U-17 World Cup are expected to name the venues the competition will be played.

Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Warri, Calabar, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna are the cities bidding to host the event.
Speaking in Ijebu-Ode after an inspection tour of the Gateway Stadium, hotels, hospitals and other facilities, the CEO and vice chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the competition, Alhaji Mainassara Ilo said: "I am encouraged by what is on ground so far, but I don’t want to pre-empt the FIFA team. There have been fundamental changes from the last time they came and I think they are impressed with what they have seen.

Ilo disclosed: "After an inspection tour of all the bidding states, FIFA will address a world press conference in either Abuja or Lagos on May 21where the host cities will be named.
In a related development, FIFA’s media director for the Under-17 World Cup, Wolfgang Resch, said the FIFA team had done a thorough assessment of the facilities and decide on the venues based on what is on ground.

He said FIFA would discuss areas of improvement with the various sub-seats so as to improve on them before the competition.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Ijebu-Ode sub-seat, Otunba Rotimi George Taylor, has assured that grey areas would be perfected in June, three months before the commencement of the competition.
Already, work is going on at the two practice pitches of the Ijebu-Ode Stadium and will be completed before June.