Follow Us on Google
By Joe Apu
President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in what he described as persistent interference by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the administration of the Supporters Club, warning that the situation is damaging Nigerian football.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Dr. Ladipo urged the NFF to hands off the affairs of the Supporters Club, stressing that the body is an independent, non-governmental organization that has supported Nigerian national teams for over 70 years without financial support from the federation. According to him, the Supporters Club deliberately delayed speaking out in order not to distract the Super Eagles currently competing in Morocco, noting that patriotism and the welfare of Nigerian players have always guided the club’s actions.
“The Nigeria Football Supporters Club has existed for over 70 years and has been part of every major success story in Nigerian football,” Ladipo said. “We have supported the Super Eagles, the Falcons, Falconets and all junior teams with our personal resources, risking our lives, leaving our families and jobs behind, without collecting money from the NFF.”
Dr. Ladipo traced the club’s contributions to landmark moments in Nigerian football history, including the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, the 1994 AFCON victory, Nigeria’s first World Cup appearance in the United States, and the historic Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medal.
He recalled that the Nigerian supporters were named the best supporters in the world by FIFA at the 1994 World Cup due to their coordinated presence and passionate support, a structure he said has now been dismantled.
The Supporters Club President General accused the NFF of deliberately dividing the once-unified supporters body by imposing an Interim Management Committee leadership and creating multiple factions, a move he said violated the club’s constitution and undermined its effectiveness.
“This division has destroyed coordination, sponsorship opportunities and morale,” he stated. “Today, Nigeria is the only country in Africa without a single, officially recognized supporters club at major tournaments.”
Dr. Ladipo cited the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Nigeria reportedly has only a handful of supporters compared to other African nations with organized fan bases, describing the situation as embarrassing and harmful to team performance.
He warned that scattering Nigerian supporters across stadiums, as witnessed during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, denies players the moral and psychological support they need to perform at the highest level.
Calling on President Tinubu to step in, Dr. Ladipo said only presidential intervention can restore unity and allow the Supporters Club to function independently and effectively.
“Mr. President must be made aware of this injustice,” he said. “The NFF does not fund us. We do not ask for government money. All we ask is to be left alone to do our job—support Nigeria selflessly.”
He added that once the NFF withdraws from the administration of the Supporters Club, unity will return, sponsors will come back, and Nigerian teams will once again benefit from the organized, passionate backing that has defined the country’s football identity for decades.
