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● Orders overhaul of NFF system
● Blames structural deficits for persistent setbacks
● NSC, NFF to consult FIFA, CAF
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a sweeping reform of Nigerian football, declaring that structural deficiencies have continued to undermine the country’s performance despite its abundance of talent, huge public support and investment.
The President directed the National Sports Commission (NSC), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other stakeholders to undertake a broad reform of football governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
His intervention comes amid mounting frustration over Nigeria’s repeated qualification setbacks and inconsistent performances at major regional, continental and global competitions.
In a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said football had continued to struggle even as other sports recorded progress following the restructuring of the sector under the re-established NSC.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” Tinubu said.
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He said the country’s enormous football talent and passion must be matched by strong institutions capable of delivering sustained success.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.
To drive the overhaul, Tinubu directed the Chairman of the NSC to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process.
The process will also involve consultations with world football governing body, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while ensuring that Nigeria remains compliant with international football regulations.
The involvement of FIFA and CAF is particularly significant given restrictions on direct government interference in the administration of football federations affiliated with the international bodies.
Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and collaborate in building what he described as a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.
The presidential directive represents the latest attempt to address longstanding problems bedevilling Nigerian football, including governance and administration, development structures, domestic competitions and accountability.
Despite producing generations of internationally acclaimed footballers and commanding enormous public following, Nigeria has struggled for consistency on the international stage, with qualification failures fuelling repeated calls for fundamental changes in the administration of the game.
Tinubu’s intervention now places institutional reform at the centre of the government’s attempt to reverse the decline and restore Nigeria’s standing in international football.
