AFCON 2025
Lobi Stars Football Club has been cleared to use the McCarthy Stadium in Makurdi as its new home ground for Nigeria National League (NNL) matches. This decision brings an end to months of frustration for supporters as the club hosted its “home” fixtures across various venues outside the state.
The Nigeria National League confirmed on 11 February 2026 that McCarthy Stadium, a compact 5,000-seat facility in the Wadata area of Makurdi, now meets the minimum requirements to host competitive NNL games. League officials, led by Chief Operating Officer Danlami Alanana, said the recent upgrades impressed inspectors and justified the switch from the club’s previous interim venues in Lafia, Jos, Bauchi and Enugu.
For now, we are impressed with the upgrade they have done. We visited and have seen what they have on the ground. The standards on ground now are acceptable for league football.
For Lobi Stars, the return to Makurdi represents a homecoming long awaited by players and fans alike. The club which played in Nigeria’s topflight before its relegation to the NNL, has not played in its home city consistently since the 2024–25 season. During that period, logistical challenges and stadium certification issues forced the team to adopt alternative venues for its “home” fixtures.
Chief Media Director of Lobi Stars welcomed the announcement, saying the shift back to McCarthy Stadium will rekindle local support and give the squad the morale boost needed in the second half of the season.
Lobi Stars football club and the Benue football community will be the better for it. The team have been away from home for too long and starved of the needed home support required for superlative performances. With the return home, we will enjoy love and a larger support base
Lobi Stars’ next scheduled home game under the new arrangement is against Doma United from Gombe State, marking their first official match at McCarthy Stadium since the league approval.
The approval of the McCarthy Stadium is a short-term solution as the club and state government continue efforts to upgrade larger facilities, including the traditional home at Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
