Tinubu orders major reform of Nigerian football over repeated tournament failures
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced significant reforms aimed at revitalizing Nigerian football, a response to the country’s ongoing challenges in qualifying for key regional, continental, and global tournaments.
The announcement was made in a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, on Thursday.
Tinubu indicated that the reforms would tackle persistent issues related to the governance and administration of football in Nigeria. These include stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions, and overall accountability within the sport.
“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.
The president emphasized the need for stronger institutions in Nigerian football to better align the country’s talent, passion, and resources with improved performance.
He instructed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to collaborate with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to continue essential football administration while also initiating comprehensive consultations regarding the proposed reforms.
Additionally, Tinubu insisted that both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) be engaged appropriately during this reform process to ensure Nigeria adheres to its international football obligations.
The president urged football stakeholders and the general public to support the reform efforts as Nigeria works to address the systemic problems affecting its football landscape.
