Say what you will, the NFF leadership has been characterized by sheer incompetence, self-serving individuals with shallow minds and administrative rascals
Without any iota of doubt, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) headquarters located at Package B of the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja ought to have been declared a crime scene, and the Sunday Dankaro House cordoned off with only the presence of homicide detectives bearing that reflective inscription.
The NFF, a body that oversees football in Nigeria (a sport religiously followed by millions of Nigerians), is facing intense scrutiny after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s second consecutive absence from the tournament.
Say what you will, the NFF leadership has been characterized by sheer incompetence, self-serving individuals with shallow minds and administrative rascals. Their trademark is lack of due process, with accountability and transparency far from their habitation. Worse, they lack the technical know-how to professionally run the federation. The NFF leadership values loyalty over competence, hence the reason you would find illiterates heading sensitive committees, rather than engaging competent individuals.
Their knack is normalizing stealing and fraud, a tradition and culture that is now a norm. Officials have a manual to justify their malfeasance with unjustifiable reasons. They have mismanaged funds meant for football development; players’ bonuses/allowances have been diverted with untenable excuses just to nourish their bellies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, in January 2024, approved and released the sum of 12 billion naira to settle unpaid bonuses and allowances for the Super Eagles, Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets, and Falconets up to 2020, an amount that jacked up to 17 billion naira (as confirmed by the former minister of sports, Senator John Enoh), due to changes in foreign exchange at the time.
To the surprise of many, the said amount was diverted by the NFF leadership to clear the backlog of hotel bills owed by the Federation, neglecting the reason the money was released. No surprise to see the Super Eagles deciding not to train for the crucial World Cup playoffs before the game against Gabon, not until the intervention of the National Sports Commission (NSC), paying the sum in dispute directly to the team’s secretary.
What is more difficult to comprehend is that, for the past year, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has released over 6.5 billion naira to the NFF with little or nothing to show; this is without sponsorship funds and money from CAF and FIFA, but with huge debts stark in their face. Sadly, the NFF owes both the dead and the living.
Only recently, a certain anti-corruption agency, upon a petition written by a private individual against the NFF, investigated the petition and ordered NFF board members who had collected excess estacodes during AFCON 2024 in Ivory Coast to refund the excess estacodes. As most NFF board members had gone to AFCON spending 7 days but collected estacodes for 30 days.
The failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has led to many Nigerians asking for a total overhaul of the system, as former international Emmanuel Babayaro insisted that the NFF should not deflect the issue by scapegoating the players. He wrote on social media, "I hear the football house screaming, trying to use the players as scapegoats for their shame. If anything needs overhauling, that will be the administration; try mass resignation for a start!" Babayaro wrote.
Although the NFF has issued an apology on behalf of the Super Eagles to President Tinubu and to millions of Nigerians for the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup ticket. The apology message went further to offer Nigerians an opium by promising to win the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
"The Nigeria Football Federation wishes to openly and sincerely apologise to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), to the Federal Government as a whole; and to millions of Nigerians, most especially our passionate, loyal football fans, following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals," the NFF wrote on Monday.
And then the dose of opium to Nigerians:
"As we look forward, our immediate attention turns to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, which begins shortly. This tournament presents an opportunity for healing, for renewal, and for demonstrating the resilience that has always defined Nigerian football.
"We make this solemn commitment to the people of Nigeria: We will rebuild trust. We will restore pride. We will reclaim our standing on the global stage. We will not allow this disappointment to be the final word on Nigerian football." The NFF also stated.
The apology, however, may not be enough to placate angry fans and critics who are calling for a total overhaul of the NFF. The federation's handling of the national team has been marred by controversy, with allegations of financial mismanagement, coaching changes, and internal conflicts.
*The Root Causes of Failure*
The NFF's problems run deeper than just the current team's performance. The country's football infrastructure is in disarray, with inadequate facilities, poor management, and a lack of investment in grassroots development. The NFF's leadership has been accused of prioritizing personal interests over the development of Nigerian football.
Time for Change
The NFF must take immediate action to address these issues. This includes:
Independent Investigation: A thorough investigation into the NFF's financial dealings and management practices.
Leadership Change: The NFF leadership must be replaced with individuals who have a proven track record of integrity and competence.
Infrastructure Development: Investment in modern football facilities, training programs, and grassroots development.
Transparency and Accountability: Regular updates on the NFF's activities, finances, and decision-making processes.
The Nigerian football family demands better. It's time for the NFF to take responsibility and implement meaningful reforms to restore pride and success to Nigerian football.