President Tinubu orders comprehensive reform of Nigerian football

President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following repeated failures by the country’s national teams to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.

The directive comes at a critical time for Nigerian football following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau and other members of the federation’s leadership.

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This was disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process.

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The process is expected to include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while ensuring Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.

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According to Onanuga, the reform will address longstanding weaknesses in the administration and development of Nigerian football.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” Onanuga said.

Tinubu targets structural weaknesses

The president said Nigerian football’s persistent struggles cannot be separated from weaknesses within the system despite the country’s abundance of football talent and the significant public support and investment the sport receives.

“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.

He stressed the need for Nigerian football to match its exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performances.

The president noted that other sports had recorded meaningful progress following the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission (NSC), but argued that football had continued to struggle because of structural challenges.

Broad reform process

Tinubu has therefore tasked the NSC chairman with working alongside the NFF Secretariat and other stakeholders to maintain essential football operations while developing a comprehensive reform framework.

The reform is expected to examine the governance and administration of the NFF, stakeholder representation, grassroots and talent development pathways, domestic competitions and financial accountability.

The engagement with FIFA and CAF will also be crucial as Nigeria seeks to implement reforms without breaching the autonomy and regulations governing football administration.

Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more transparent and successful football system.

The directive represents the Federal Government’s most significant push for structural reform of Nigerian football in the wake of a series of disappointing results by the country’s national teams.

The immediate challenge will be ensuring continuity in football administration while creating a system capable of delivering better governance, stronger domestic competitions and improved performances on the international stage.