President Bola Tinubu has ordered a sweeping reform of Nigerian football aimed at addressing the country’s recurring failure to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.
The President directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to collaborate with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other key football stakeholders to maintain continuity in core football administration while driving a broad, consultative reform process.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement issued on Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Football Reform.’
Tinubu pointed to deep-rooted structural weaknesses in the sport despite its massive public backing and national attention.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” the President said.
He drew a contrast between football’s setbacks and the progress made in other sports since the sector was reset under the re-established National Sports Commission, attributing football’s continued poor performance to internal weaknesses rather than a shortage of resources or talent.
“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,” he said.
He insisted that Nigerian football must begin to align its exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and consistent performance.
Tinubu framed the reform as an urgent correction rather than a routine administrative exercise.
He said the reform process would involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF, while ensuring Nigeria’s obligations within the international football governance framework are upheld.
The President appealed to football stakeholders and Nigerians at large to support the transition and work collectively toward building a stronger, more accountable and more successful football system.
The directive comes at a difficult time for Nigerian football, with the Super Eagles having struggled through recent World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns, amid long-running governance disputes within the NFF.
