PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has ordered a complete reform of Nigerian football following a leadership shake-up at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), amid growing frustration over the national teams’ failure to qualify for major tournaments.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the directive in a statement on Thursday, confirming that the move comes after mounting pressure on the NFF following the Super Falcons’ and Super Eagles’ failure to secure World Cup berths.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” President Tinubu was quoted as saying.
The President noted that while other sports had made meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission (NSC), football has continued to lag behind due to structural weaknesses.
“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,” he said.
The President stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.
Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process. This will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.
The directive came hours after NFF President Ibrahim Gusau resigned from his position. Gusau said his decision was to give other Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to football development, arguing that despite the Super Eagles and Super Falcons’ World Cup failures, he was leaving the NFF in a better position than he found it.
The NFF had faced intense scrutiny after the Super Falcons failed to reach the semi-final of their qualification competition following a loss to Cameroon, marking the first time Nigeria would miss the Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991. The men’s Super Eagles also failed to feature at the World Cup earlier this year.
The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.
