Tinubu demands reforms as NFF crisis deepens

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s football administration following the country’s repeated failure to qualify for major international competitions.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Tinubu said the proposed reforms should address longstanding weaknesses in the administration and development of the sport, including governance, accountability, stakeholder representation, domestic competitions and pathways for developing players.

According to the President, football has continued to underperform despite the progress recorded in other sports since the restructuring of the sports sector and the re-establishment of the National Sports Commission.

“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 said Nigeria’s football system must be restructured to better harness the country’s abundant talent, resources and passion for the sport.

The President directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other stakeholders to maintain essential football operations while initiating a broad-based reform process.

The exercise, he said, should involve extensive consultations with stakeholders and appropriate engagement with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Tinubu stressed that the reforms must be carried out without compromising Nigeria’s obligations under international football regulations.

The directive comes amid growing concerns over the administration and performance of Nigerian football, including the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for recent World Cup tournaments and the Super Falcons’ historic failure to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The development also follows the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and other members of the federation’s executive board.

Tinubu urged football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the reform process, saying a collective effort was needed to build a more effective, transparent and successful football system.