Tinubu Calls for Football Overhaul Following Super Eagles and Super Falcons Setbacks

President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following growing concerns over the country’s recent struggles in major international competitions and the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau.

The President said the reform is aimed at rebuilding the structures that govern Nigerian football, strengthening accountability and creating a more effective development system capable of matching the country’s enormous football talent with sustained success.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

Football reform follows leadership shake-up

Tinubu’s directive came hours after Ibrahim Gusau resigned as President of the Nigeria Football Federation, ending his tenure amid intense pressure over the performances of Nigeria’s senior national teams.

According to the President, the decision to begin a broad reform process became necessary because Nigerian football has continued to experience repeated setbacks despite the country’s passionate fan base, talented players and significant public investment in the sport.

Tinubu said football must undergo institutional reforms that address governance, administration, stakeholder representation, domestic competitions, player development and accountability across the entire football ecosystem.

He stressed that Nigeria’s football structures must begin to reflect the quality of talent available across the country.

“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,” the President said.

Why the President wants a new football system

While acknowledging progress recorded in other sporting disciplines since the re-establishment of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Tinubu said football has remained behind because of longstanding structural weaknesses.

The President believes the challenge is no longer simply about players or coaches but about building stronger institutions capable of delivering consistent results.

He said the reform must create sustainable development pathways for young footballers, improve the administration of domestic competitions and ensure that all major stakeholders have a voice in shaping the future of the game.

For millions of Nigerians who passionately follow football, the proposed overhaul represents an effort to restore confidence in the country’s most popular sport.

 

Shehu Dikko to coordinate reform process

President Tinubu has directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, to work closely with the NFF Secretariat and other relevant football stakeholders to oversee the transition.

The assignment includes ensuring continuity in essential football administration while facilitating what the Presidency described as a broad and consultative reform process.

The government also said the process would involve appropriate engagement with international football governing bodies, including FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while ensuring Nigeria continues to meet its international football obligations.

Tinubu appealed to football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition, saying the objective is to build a stronger, more transparent and more successful football system.

World Cup disappointments increased pressure

The call for reform follows a difficult period for Nigeria’s national teams.

The NFF faced widespread criticism after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking the first time Nigeria will miss the tournament since its inception in 1991.

The Falcons’ campaign ended after they failed to reach the semi-finals following a defeat to Cameroon.

Nigeria’s men’s national team, the Super Eagles, also missed out on participating in the World Cup earlier this year, further increasing public frustration over the direction of Nigerian football.

These disappointing results intensified calls from supporters, former players and stakeholders for significant changes within the football administration.

Gusau says he leaves with football in a better position

In announcing his resignation, Ibrahim Gusau said his decision was motivated by the need to allow other Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to the development of football.

He maintained that despite the failures of both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons to qualify for their respective World Cups, he believed he was leaving the federation in a better position than he met it.

His resignation now opens a new chapter for the NFF as the Federal Government begins consultations around the wider reform of Nigerian football.

What happens next?

The immediate focus will be the transition process led by the National Sports Commission in collaboration with the NFF Secretariat and football stakeholders across the country.

Discussions are expected to centre on governance reforms, improved domestic league structures, youth development, stakeholder representation and greater accountability within football administration.

For Nigerian fans, however, the ultimate measure of success will not simply be administrative changes but whether the reforms eventually produce stronger domestic competitions, better-managed national teams and consistent qualification for major continental and global tournaments.

President Tinubu’s directive signals one of the most significant government-backed interventions in Nigerian football in recent years. Whether it delivers the long-awaited transformation supporters have demanded will depend on how effectively the reform process is implemented in the months ahead.

 

Written by Boom RadioNG