Tinubu Orders Major Reform of Nigerian Football Over Repeated Tournament Failures

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

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

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

According to the President, football remains Nigeria’s most popular sport and has received significant public support, investment and national attention over the years. However, he noted that the sport had continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.

“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 directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to maintain essential football administration while commencing broad consultations on the proposed reforms.

He also directed that international football governing bodies, including FIFA and CAF, be appropriately engaged throughout the process.

Tinubu stressed the need to ensure that Nigeria’s obligations under the international football framework were protected while reforms were being developed and implemented.

The directive comes amid growing concerns over the performance and administration of Nigerian football, following a series of disappointing results and qualification failures involving the country’s national teams.

The President called on football stakeholders to support the reform process, saying a comprehensive review was necessary to address the underlying challenges affecting the development of the sport.

He also urged Nigerians to support efforts aimed at rebuilding the country’s football structure and creating a system capable of producing sustained success at domestic and international levels.

The reform is expected to generate further consultations among football administrators, former players, coaches, clubs, supporters and other stakeholders as the government seeks to reposition Nigerian football.

The initiative will also test the ability of the authorities to balance domestic reforms with the autonomy requirements of international football bodies.

Tinubu’s directive signals a renewed attempt by the Federal Government to tackle the structural problems blamed for Nigeria’s declining fortunes in football and restore the country’s status as a leading force in African football.