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Tinubu orders sweeping reform of Nigerian football after repeated failures

Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah August 28, 2026
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Tinubu orders sweeping reform of Nigerian football after repeated failures

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

The reforms will focus on governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability, with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), football stakeholders, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) expected to be involved in the process.

In a statement published on X, formerly known as Twitter, President Tinubu said Nigeria’s football results had repeatedly fallen below the standards expected of a country with such a strong football tradition.

“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.”

Mr Tinubu said the problems confronting Nigerian football were structural and therefore required fundamental changes rather than short-term solutions.

“The problems are structural, and our response must address them,” he added.

Governance and development targeted

According to the president, the reform programme will seek to strengthen the administration of football while creating a more accountable system capable of turning Nigeria’s considerable playing talent into sustained international success.

“The reform will strengthen governance and administration, improve stakeholder representation and accountability, rebuild development pathways and strengthen our domestic competitions,” he said.

“Our exceptional football talent must be supported by institutions capable of turning that talent into sustained success.”

The president also linked the proposed changes to wider reforms in Nigeria’s sports sector following the re-establishment of the National Sports Commission.

He said the country had recorded “meaningful progress” in other sporting disciplines under the new framework and argued that football, as Nigeria’s most popular sport and one of the biggest beneficiaries of public investment and attention, should achieve similar progress.

“I have therefore directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process,” Mr Tinubu said.

The president stressed that the reform process would not be conducted in isolation from the international football authorities.

“This process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF, while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework,” 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 follow a difficult period for the country’s national teams, particularly the Super Eagles, who have failed to qualify for two successive FIFA World Cups.

Nigeria missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after being eliminated by Ghana in the African qualifying play-offs. The Super Eagles subsequently failed to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The back-to-back failures have intensified scrutiny of the administration and development structures underpinning Nigerian football, despite the country’s reputation for producing elite players.

Nigeria has historically been one of Africa’s strongest football nations, winning the Africa Cup of Nations three times and regularly competing at the highest level in international football.

However, the failure to reach the last two men’s World Cups has raised questions over whether the country’s football infrastructure and administration are adequately supporting its talent pool.

Super Falcons also face setbacks

The difficulties have not been limited to the men’s national team.

The Super Falcons, Nigeria’s dominant force in women’s African football, had previously appeared at every Women’s World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1991.

However, their qualification campaign for the latest tournament was also disrupted by a series of defeats, leaving the team outside the automatic qualification places before they were eventually eliminated in the play-offs.

The setbacks have added to calls for a broader examination of Nigeria’s football system, from grassroots development and domestic competitions to national-team preparation and administration.

President Tinubu said the reform should ultimately create a system that matches the country’s enormous football potential.

He called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the process, saying the objective was to build “a stronger, more accountable and successful football system worthy of our talent, our passion and our country.”

The involvement of FIFA and CAF will be particularly important as Nigeria seeks to implement institutional changes while remaining within the rules governing national football associations and international competitions.

Tags: Bola Tinubu NFF Nigeria
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