Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has ordered a wide-ranging overhaul of the country’s football system after the men’s and women’s national teams suffered major qualification setbacks.
The proposed changes will cover governance, administration, accountability, player development and domestic competitions. The process is expected to involve the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), football stakeholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tinubu said Nigeria’s problems were “structural” and could not be solved through isolated adjustments.
“Football occupies a special place in our national life. It brings Nigerians together across generations and communities, and our country has never lacked talent, passion or support for the game,” he said.
“Yet, our results have too often fallen short of what Nigeria should expect. I have therefore directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following our repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.”
The president said the review would seek to make football’s administration more effective while giving stakeholders clearer representation and greater responsibility.
It will also examine the pathways through which young players are developed and the strength of domestic competitions, with both regarded as central to converting Nigeria’s substantial talent into consistent international success.
“The problems are structural, and our response must address them,” Tinubu said.
“The reform will strengthen governance and administration, improve stakeholder representation and accountability, rebuild development pathways and strengthen our domestic competitions.”
He added that Nigeria’s players needed institutions capable of supporting them over the long term.
“Our exceptional football talent must be supported by institutions capable of turning that talent into sustained success,” he said.
NFF leadership resigns
The announcement follows major changes within the leadership of Nigerian football. NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, members of the federation’s Executive Committee and General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi have resigned from their positions.
The departures have created further uncertainty as the government starts its reform programme.
Tinubu has instructed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to ensure essential football administration continues. That work will take place alongside a broader consultation about the future direction of the sport.
The consultation is expected to include CAF and FIFA. Tinubu also stressed that any changes must comply with Nigeria’s responsibilities under the international football framework.
That requirement is significant because FIFA has consistently opposed inappropriate government interference in the running of national football associations.
“This process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF, while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework,” he said.
Super Eagles miss out again
The reform order comes after a difficult period for Nigeria’s senior men’s side, the Super Eagles.
Nigeria failed to reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and then missed qualification for the 2026 tournament, which will be held in North America. Missing two successive World Cups has increased criticism of the country’s football administration and prompted questions about how players are developed, domestic competitions are organised and national teams are prepared.
The setbacks represent a notable decline for a country with a long record of achievement in African football. The Super Eagles have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times and have traditionally been considered one of the continent’s leading teams.
The women’s national side, the Super Falcons, have also experienced a significant disappointment.
Nigeria had played at every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991. That run made the country the only African nation to appear at every edition of the tournament.
However, a succession of defeats in the latest qualifying campaign left the Super Falcons outside the automatic qualification positions. They were later eliminated in the playoffs, ending their hopes of preserving their uninterrupted World Cup record.
That failure has added to concerns about the wider structures supporting Nigerian football, including player development, domestic competitions and the management of the national teams.
Government calls for wider support
Tinubu said the proposed changes would extend beyond the performance of the national sides and would address Nigeria’s broader football ecosystem.
He referred to progress in other sports after the re-establishment of the National Sports Commission and the introduction of what he called the RHINSE philosophy.
“Football, our most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, must also make similar progress,” he said.
The president urged football officials, other stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and contribute to the effort to build a more accountable system.
“I ask all football stakeholders and Nigerians to support this transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system worthy of our talent, our passion and our country,” he said.
The reforms could become one of the most substantial interventions in Nigerian football administration in recent years, with the government seeking to tackle what it describes as deep-rooted structural weaknesses rather than concentrating only on the results of individual national teams.
