Tinubu orders sweeping reform of Nigerian football after repeated tournament failures

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of the country's football system following a series of failures by its national teams to qualify for major international tournaments.

The reforms will focus on governance, administration, player development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability, with the process expected to involve the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), football stakeholders and the sport's continental and global governing bodies, CAF and FIFA.

In a statement published on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Tinubu said Nigeria's football problems were "structural" and therefore required a broad response rather than isolated changes.

"Football occupies a special place in our national life. It brings Nigerians together across generations and communities, and our country has never lacked talent, passion or support for the game," he said.

"Yet, our results have too often fallen short of what Nigeria should expect. I have therefore directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following our repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments."

Governance and development under scrutiny

President Tinubu said the reform would seek to strengthen the administration of the game while improving representation and accountability among stakeholders.

It will also seek to rebuild Nigeria's player development pathways and strengthen domestic competitions, areas regarded as crucial to ensuring the country's considerable football talent translates into sustained success at international level.

"The problems are structural, and our response must address them," Mr Tinubu said.

"The reform will strengthen governance and administration, improve stakeholder representation and accountability, rebuild development pathways and strengthen our domestic competitions."

The president added that Nigeria's footballing talent needed stronger institutions capable of developing players and maintaining success over the long term.

"Our exceptional football talent must be supported by institutions capable of turning that talent into sustained success," he said.

• NFF leadership resigns

The announcement comes amid significant changes at the top of Nigerian football, with NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, members of his Executive Committee and General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi resigning from their positions.

Their departures add to the uncertainty surrounding the administration of Nigerian football as the government begins the reform process.

President Tinubu has instructed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to maintain essential football administration while preparing a wider consultation on the future of the sport.

The process is also expected to involve FIFA and CAF.

Mr Tinubu stressed that any reforms would have to respect Nigeria's obligations under the international football framework, an important consideration given FIFA's longstanding position against undue government interference in the administration of football associations.

"This process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF, while safeguarding Nigeria's obligations within the international football framework," he said.

• Super Eagles' World Cup struggles

The reforms follow a difficult period for the country's senior men's team, the Super Eagles.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and then suffered another setback by missing out on the 2026 tournament in North America.

The back-to-back failures have intensified criticism of the country's football administration and raised questions about the structures responsible for developing players, organising domestic competitions and preparing the national teams.

For a country with a long history of success in African football, the absence from two successive World Cups represents a significant decline.

The Super Eagles have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times and have regularly been regarded as one of the continent's leading football nations.

• Super Falcons also suffer setback

Nigeria's women's football programme has also faced difficulties despite the Super Falcons' remarkable record at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The team had appeared at every edition of the tournament since its inaugural staging in 1991, making Nigeria the only African country to have maintained such a consistent presence at the competition.

However, a series of defeats in the latest qualification campaign left the Super Falcons outside the automatic qualification places.

They were subsequently eliminated in the playoffs, ending their hopes of maintaining their uninterrupted World Cup record.

The setback has added to concerns about the structures supporting Nigerian football, particularly player development, domestic competitions and the administration of the national teams.

• Government seeks broader consultation

Mr Tinubu said the changes would not be limited to the national teams, stressing that the country's wider football ecosystem needed attention.

He pointed to progress in other sports following the re-establishment of the National Sports Commission and the implementation of what he described as the RHINSE philosophy.

"Football, our most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, must also make similar progress," he said.

The president called on football stakeholders to support the transition and participate in efforts to create a more accountable and effective system.

"I ask all football stakeholders and Nigerians to support this transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system worthy of our talent, our passion and our country," he said.

The proposed reforms could therefore mark one of the most significant interventions in Nigerian football administration in recent years, with the government seeking to address what it describes as deep-rooted structural problems rather than focusing solely on the performance of individual national teams.