For sure, I am one of the thousands, if not millions, of football followers who welcomed the decision of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to cancel the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) electoral congress scheduled to take place on September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The NSC announced the decision last Thursday, shortly after the Super Falcons suffered a disappointing elimination from the African playoff for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the hands of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Morocco.
The setback was particularly painful because the Super Falcons have featured in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in China in 1991. Missing the 2027 edition would therefore be a major setback for one of Nigeria’s most successful and consistent national teams.
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Whether or not the timing of the NSC’s decision was directly linked to that disappointment, the development has undoubtedly reignited debate about the state of Nigerian football, the effectiveness of its administration and the direction in which the game is heading.
For many of us, the decision presents an opportunity to take a closer look at the structures, policies and leadership of the NFF and determine what needs to change. Nigerian football needs more than periodic elections. It needs a functional system capable of promoting accountability, developing talent, improving competitions and restoring confidence among stakeholders.
That is why I see the decision as a timely intervention aimed at saving Nigerian sports, particularly football, from further decline and possible collapse. It provides an opportunity to confront the growing challenges facing the sector, restore proper administration and accountability, and create a more stable environment in which sports can develop and thrive.
More importantly, the decision could provide a much-needed opportunity to reset Nigerian football, correct some of the longstanding weaknesses in its administration and tackle the deep-rooted problems that have continued to hinder the growth and development of the game.
Many of us are particularly encouraged by the possibility that the NSC intervention could pave the way for a comprehensive reorganisation of the federation. In my assessment, the NFF has gradually lost much of its value, credibility and relevance to the proper development of Nigerian football.
The intervention therefore presents an opportunity to address the structural and administrative weaknesses within the federation, restore confidence among stakeholders and refocus the NFF on its primary responsibility of developing and promoting football in Nigeria.
It is a glaring fact that the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF executive committee, after four years in office, had been preparing for another electoral contest. The cancellation has understandably introduced fresh uncertainty into the electoral process and raised questions about the future direction of the federation and its leadership.
For me, however, the issue should go beyond Gusau and his ambition to secure a second term. What is at stake is far bigger than the political future of one individual, his team or the outcome of another NFF election.
The real concern should be the future of Nigerian football and whether the structures responsible for governing the game are capable of delivering the reforms, accountability and sustainable development that the country urgently needs.
The focus should therefore be on building a stronger, more transparent and effective football administration that can serve the interests of the game, protect the welfare of its stakeholders and create a solid foundation for the long-term development of Nigerian football.
The matter should not be reduced to whether Gusau returns for another term or whether a new leadership emerges. What matters most is whether the process can produce an administration capable of addressing the problems that have held Nigerian football back for years.
Unfortunately, the problems are too obvious to ignore.
We all know that all is not well with Nigerian football. Our domestic league remains deeply troubled, with the dangerous monster called corruption continuing to undermine its growth, credibility and development.
Problems relating to administration, transparency, accountability, officiating, club management and financial sustainability have continued to hold the league back from reaching its enormous potential.
Even our best-performing clubs, which emerge from this fragile and highly compromised domestic league to represent Nigeria in CAF competitions, have struggled to progress beyond the preliminary and qualifying rounds, with many failing to reach the group stages of their respective competitions.
This is a clear indication of the challenges facing our domestic football system and the urgent need to strengthen the league, improve the standard of officiating and raise the overall quality of competition.
That is why even the best players selected from the domestic league to form the Super Eagles B team for the CHAN (African Nations Championship) have struggled to produce the positive results Nigerians once expected from them.
Our other national teams have not been spared either. Many no longer command the level of respect and fear they once enjoyed across the continent. In recent years, teams that Nigerians would previously have expected to defeat comfortably have shown that our national teams are no longer unbeatable.
The situation is particularly worrying because Nigeria has never lacked football talent. We have players competing successfully in some of the best leagues in the world, yet we continue to struggle to translate that individual talent into consistent success at the national-team level.
There is also a growing perception among football followers that the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF administration appears more concerned with international trips and the opportunities surrounding them than with measurable results and sustainable football development.
International exposure is important, but it should never become an end in itself. The more important questions are: What do these trips and engagements contribute to Nigerian football? Are they producing better teams? Are they improving our competitions? Are they strengthening our grassroots structures? Are they developing coaches, referees and administrators?
These are the questions the NFF should be able to answer convincingly.
In the interim, I understand that the NSC is considering the appointment of a “normalisation committee” to oversee the affairs of Nigerian football for about three months, after which fresh elections would be conducted.
If properly constituted and given a clear and limited mandate, such an arrangement could provide an opportunity to review existing structures, address outstanding governance concerns and create a more credible foundation for a new NFF administration.
However, the success of any normalisation process will depend largely on the quality, independence and competence of the people appointed to it. It must not become another avenue for political patronage or simply replace one set of interests with another.
The committee, if eventually constituted, should comprise respected football and sports administrators with proven experience, integrity and a genuine understanding of the challenges confronting Nigerian football.
Its primary responsibility should be to stabilise the system, restore confidence, review the federation’s governance structure where necessary and create a transparent and credible electoral process.
The committee should also avoid making major long-term decisions that could bind the next administration. Its job should be to clean up the system, strengthen the foundations and prepare the ground for a credible election.
Another important issue that must be addressed is the structure of the NFF Electoral Congress.
The authorities must correct what many stakeholders consider an imbalance in the representation of the various interests within Nigerian football. For too long, State FA chairmen have formed the bulk of the congress, while clubs, players, coaches, referees and other important stakeholders have had limited representation.
A more balanced and inclusive electoral structure is needed to ensure that all major stakeholders have a meaningful voice in determining the leadership and future direction of Nigerian football.
Football belongs to all its stakeholders, not just administrators. The electoral structure should therefore reflect the diversity and interests of the wider football community.
The reported engagement between the NSC, CAF and FIFA is also important. I understand that the commission sought the cooperation and support of both international football bodies, and that FIFA has reportedly given its blessing to the move.
Such engagement is crucial to ensuring that the proposed intervention is properly understood and does not create unnecessary tension with the international football authorities.
To me, even if FIFA and CAF choose to turn a deaf ear to the situation, Nigeria should still do what is necessary to put its football house in order.
We can address our internal problems, rebuild the system and return to the international football community when we are ready with a stronger and more credible structure.
There is little value, in my view, in participating in competitions year after year if we continue to perform below expectations.
The priority should be to fix the problems that are holding us back so that when we compete, we do so with properly prepared teams capable of achieving meaningful results.
At the same time, Nigeria must ensure that the autonomy of football administration is respected while legitimate government responsibility for sports development is also recognised. The objective should be cooperation, not confrontation.
The cancellation of the election should therefore not be viewed simply as a victory for one faction or a defeat for another. It should be seen as an opportunity to ask fundamental questions about the direction of Nigerian football.
What kind of NFF do we want?
What kind of leadership does Nigerian football require?
How do we make the domestic league more competitive, attractive and commercially viable?
How do we strengthen our clubs and improve their participation in continental competitions?
How do we improve officiating and restore confidence in the integrity of our competitions?
How do we develop coaches and referees?
How do we invest properly in grassroots football and school sports?
How do we ensure that funds meant for football development are used transparently and accountably?
These are the questions that should occupy the attention of the authorities and stakeholders during this period.
Nigeria has enormous football talent, a passionate fan base and a rich history in the game. What has often been missing is a consistent, professional and credible administrative structure capable of converting these advantages into sustainable success.
The present moment therefore offers an opportunity for a genuine reset.
If the NSC is determined to reorganise the NFF, it must go beyond simply cancelling or postponing an election. It must ensure that the process produces a stronger, more transparent and more accountable federation.
The new administration must also create an environment where clubs can operate professionally, players can develop properly, coaches can improve their qualifications and competitions can attract genuine commercial investment. A strong national team cannot be built on a weak domestic football structure.
The ultimate objective should not be who wins the next NFF election. It should be how Nigerian football can finally begin to win again, both on and off the pitch.
That is why I consider the cancellation of the September 27 NFF election a potentially good omen.
If handled with sincerity, professionalism, transparency and courage, it could become the beginning of a new chapter for Nigerian football.
But the opportunity must not be wasted. Nigerians have seen too many promises and too many changes that produced little difference. What the game needs now is not another cosmetic adjustment, but genuine reform.
The time has come to put Nigerian football first.
