Tinubu orders major reform of Nigerian football over repeated tournament failures

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a major reform of Nigerian football following repeated failures by the country to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Tinubu said the reform would address long-standing issues affecting the administration and development of football, including governance, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.

“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 said Nigerian football must have stronger institutions capable of matching the country’s talent, passion and resources with sustained performance.

He directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to maintain essential football administration while beginning a broad consultation on the proposed reforms.

Tinubu also directed that FIFA and CAF be appropriately engaged during the process while ensuring that Nigeria’s obligations under the international football framework are protected.

The president called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the reform process as efforts intensify to address the problems affecting the country’s football system.