It is widely acknowledged that no one is truly satisfied with the way football is managed in this country.
This growing discontent is closely tied to the repeated disappointments delivered by those who have entrenched themselves as administrators of the game.
From the moment they maneuvered their way into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the game has steadily declined.
Instead of progress, we have witnessed a persistent downward trend marked by poor decisions, poor results, lack of transparency, and stagnation.
This decline has fuelled widespread calls for reform within the NFF, coming from all quarters and sectors, aimed at correcting the numerous failings the current leadership has ignored.
It is therefore not surprising that at the 2026 Extraordinary General Assembly of the NFF held in Yenagoa, Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, joined other stakeholders in delivering a firm and uncompromising assessment of Nigerian football governance, calling for urgent, deliberate, and far-reaching reforms.
Dikko stressed that the challenges confronting the game can no longer be addressed with empty promises or routine statements.
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He insisted that this is a defining moment requiring bold decisions and concrete action rather than rhetoric.
He highlighted that the existing governance structure has failed to keep pace with the evolving realities of modern football, both locally and globally.
According to him, the current system is increasingly inadequate in addressing transparency, inclusivity, accountability, and effective stakeholder representation.
Central to his position was the assertion that the 2010 NFF Statutes are outdated and no longer fit for purpose.
While these statutes may have served the game in the past, the rapid transformation of football into a highly structured, commercially driven, and globally competitive industry demands a more responsive and forward-looking framework.
Clinging to obsolete regulations hinders progress, limits growth, and perpetuates structural imbalances within the system.
Dikko called on the NFF and all stakeholders to embrace comprehensive reforms that will modernize the statutes, strengthen institutional credibility, and reposition Nigerian football for sustainable development and global competitiveness.
He emphasized that football must evolve beyond routine administration into a dynamic and self-sustaining economic sector.
Properly harnessed, the game holds vast untapped potential to generate revenue, create jobs, attract investment, and contribute meaningfully to the national economy through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, digital media, and merchandising.
In a stern and unmistakable tone, Dikko demanded accountability, warning that complacency and resistance to change would no longer be tolerated. He declared: “The system must correct itself. If it does not, the correction will be done for it.”
I salute Shehu Dikko for these pronouncements, which reflect what is truly required from the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led NFF at this critical moment.
However, words alone are insufficient. Leadership at this level demands clarity, decisive action, and honest communication.
Anything less only creates confusion, weakens confidence, and slows urgently needed progress.
What is required now is a fundamental correction of the deep-rooted injustices entrenched within the system, a deliberate and comprehensive overhaul that restores fairness, transparency, accountability, and credibility.
The dominance of State Football Association chairmen in the NFF Electoral Congress has created a clear imbalance, where one group overwhelmingly controls decisions at the expense of other stakeholders.
Until this structural injustice is addressed, any talk of economic expansion or commercial growth will remain superficial.
I recall that the former Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, once directed the NFF leadership to expand its elective congress to accommodate a broader range of stakeholders.
He emphasized that this reform would ensure balanced and proportional representation, enhancing the integrity and overall development of the game, and proposed that it be implemented within 12 months.
Enoh further stressed that Nigeria’s football framework must be flexible and responsive to the country’s unique realities.
While FIFA provides general guidelines, it acknowledges the distinct circumstances of individual nations.
Therefore, the NFF should not wait indefinitely for universal statutes that may not fully address Nigeria’s needs.
He urged the NFF to initiate, conclude, and adopt all necessary amendments within a year, before forwarding the revised statutes to FIFA for ratification.
Regrettably, from 2024 until his exit from office, the NFF took no tangible steps to implement these directives, raising serious concerns about its willingness to embrace meaningful reforms.
The minister’s directive was both timely and necessary, offering an opportunity to open the congress to genuine stakeholders and competent contributors while eliminating those who add little or no value.
Expanding the NFF elective congress is not an overnight task; it requires careful planning, broad consultation, and time.
Yet it remains the most viable pathway to accommodate more stakeholders, reduce recurring litigations, and correct entrenched imbalances.
Currently, the 37 State and FCT FA chairmen dominate the 44-member congress, leaving other critical stakeholders with only one representative each, a structure inadequate for a country of over 200 million people with a thriving football culture.
A fair and inclusive system must be established, incorporating:
- All 20 Nigeria Professional Football League clubs
- The 12 Nigeria Nationwide League clubs
- The 12 Nigeria Women Football League clubs
- At least six members each from the Nigeria Referees Association, Nigeria Coaches Association, and Players Union, with representation across all six geopolitical zones
- Representatives from NAPHER-SD to broaden technical and developmental input
Only through an expanded and representative congress can we elect the right leaders to transform Nigerian football into one of Africa’s best systems.
At present, everything seems to be going wrong: our clubs underperform in CAF competitions, referees are excluded from FIFA and CAF tournaments, and the Super Eagles fail to lift the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations while also missing out on the 2026 World Cup.
All these failures and many others underscore the urgent need for structural reforms in the NFF.
The path forward is clear: Nigerian football must create a level playing field where all stakeholders can actively participate and contribute.
Without meaningful reforms, the game risks stagnation while other African nations modernize their systems, invest in youth development, and professionalize their leagues.
We need reforms to bring in fresh ideas, remove those who contribute nothing positive, and ensure that only genuine stakeholders lead and manage the NFF.
Shehu Dikko as Nigeria’s number one sports administrator must remain steadfast, turning his words into tangible actions and ensuring these reforms are systematically implemented.
For any amendment of a National Sports Federation in Nigeria, including the NFF, the process must begin with a formal call for memoranda from stakeholders.
Drafts are then circulated for review and comments, followed by an Extraordinary Congress to ratify the changes. Finally, the approved statutes are submitted to the continental confederation and FIFA for final consideration.
This is a deliberate, step-by-step process that cannot be rushed.
Clear timelines, mobilization of human and material resources, and meticulous coordination are essential to ensure the amendments are effectively implemented.
