from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – THE Nigerian government has directed a comprehensive reform of football to overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.
President Bola Tinubu has given the directive.
“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.
He bemoaned that, “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 directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigerian Football Federation Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.
The process will include engagement with the Federation of International Football Association and Confederation of African Football while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.
Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.
Nigerian football has experienced a systemic decline across both its men’s and women’s national set-ups, driven largely by administrative instability, structural deficits and poor strategic planning rather than a lack of raw talent.
The men’s senior team failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups.
The women’s team, which had never missed a tournament since its inception in 1991, failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The U-17 and U-20 teams have suffered consecutive qualification failures.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi have resigned.
– CAJ News