Godswill Akpabio Stadium Hosting CAF Champions League Final - Does the City of Uyo Have What It Takes?

 

The majestic Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo is now in line to become the first Nigerian football stadium to host the final of the CAF Champions League, in over a decade.

According to reports on Sunday, a Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) delegation arrived in Uyo: Nigeria's South-Southern region, a day before, to inspect the 'Nest of Champions.'

If approved, the Godswill Akpabio Stadium could become the first Nigerian stadium to host the biggest club football final on the continent, 13 years after Heartland did when the Champions League final was still being decided on a home-and-away basis.

Why did CAF stop the home-and-away format for finals?

In 1965, CAF staged the first final of the Champions League: previously called African Cup of Champions Clubs, as a single match in Ghana, and then rejigged the competition after that, to have fans cheer their teams at home in subsequent finals.

Since then, every final of the premier club competition has been played over two legs with an aggregate score, determining the winners.

However, after Wydad Casablanca: the visitors in the second leg of 2019's controversial final with Esperance de Tunis, refused to continue playing after their equalizer was ruled out, CAF abandoned the format in favour of a one-legged final at a neutral venue.

Does Uyo have what it takes?

Although one-legged finals in Africa have been considered a huge gamble, as most times, it results in showpieces being watched by tiny crowds - for example, the CAF Super Cup - CAF, have stuck by its decision.

The 2022 showpiece will be the third final - after the 2020 and 2021 editions were played at the Cairo International Stadium (Egypt) and the Stade Mohammed V (Morocco) - to be played at a pre-selected neutral venue.

While both the 2020 final in Egypt: between two Egyptian teams, and, the 2021 final in Morocco between an Egyptian team: Al Ahly, and a South African team: Kaizer Chiefs, were behind closed doors (2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the case will be different in 2022.

For Uyo, the ability to fill up the 30000-seater could be considered one of the requirements for hosting Africa. But having hosted the Super Eagles to large crowds on numerous occasions, attracting a sizeable crowd shouldn't be a problem.

The Godswill Akpabio Stadium also saw large numbers during Akwa United's 2016 and 2018 CAF Confederation Cup campaigns, as well as in the CAF Champions League, earlier this season.

Asides from inspection of the stadium, designated hotels and referral hospitals and an airport within proximity of the host city are also key requirements to host the final, something Uyo is not in want of.

Who is rivalling a Nigerian hosting of the CAF CL final?

The South African Football Association (SAFA) stated on Friday that it intends to bid for the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League final hosting rights.

According to the SAFA vice president Gladwyn White, the aim was to motivate AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns to go all the way, creating an all-South African final in front of a home crowd: like the 2020 showpiece between Al Ahly and Zamalek in Egypt.

After a 1-1 Group B draw with Horoya on Friday, AmaZulu got eliminated from the Champions League. It remains uncertain if the SAFA, will still push on with this bid.

What teams are still in the competition?

Following the completion of the group stages on April 3, the Champions League knockouts will begin on April 15.

South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, who were champions in 2016, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance de Tunis and Angola's Petro de Luanda are all part of eight teams who have progressed to the quarter-finals.