Nigerian football is currently in a state of crisis, operating without a clear plan or structure—relying instead on “vibes and faith.” The recent string of poor results, including the senior team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup and the struggles of the Flying Eagles (U-20) and Golden Eaglets (U-17), clearly demonstrate this lack of direction. We have incredible individual talent, epitomized by players like Victor Osimhen, whose passion and relentless effort are unmatched. However, individual brilliance cannot overcome a fundamentally flawed system. The repeated failures show that Nigeria is not investing in and training the right talent but rather is hoping to buy success, which is a failing strategy.
A Case Study in Intentionality: Learning from Morocco
To understand what success looks like, we must study nations that have built excellent football structures, such as Morocco. Morocco’s achievements are not due to luck or prayer; they are the result of intentionality, design, and a commitment to sporting excellence. Their success, evident in their national teams and the quality of their facilities, serves as a powerful contrast to Nigeria’s current situation. Morocco proves that putting in the work—building the foundation—is what leads to great results, not simply having raw talent.
The Need for a “Football Factory”: Nigeria’s Own Clairefontaine
Nigeria needs a permanent, high-quality structure dedicated to continuous talent development—a “factory to bake the world’s talents.” A brilliant example is France’s Institut National du Football de Clairefontaine. Established after a period of poor results in the 1980s, Clairefontaine became the primary source for producing World Cup winners and world-class players like Kylian Mbappé and Thierry Henry.
Nigeria must create its own equivalent—a national football academy that focuses on long-term development. Without this kind of infrastructure, our football will continue to decline, with the U-17 and U-20 teams virtually nonexistent, and the success of the Super Falcons being despite the system, not because of it.
The Root of the Problem: NFF Corruption and Structural Collapse
The fundamental issue is the incompetence, chaos, and corruption rotting the NFF from the inside out. The recurring problems—unpaid allowances, substandard hotels, and a lack of transparency—create an environment where players cannot thrive. This collapse is not new; it is the consequence of decades of poor foundation, leading to the current instability.
The FIFA rule prohibiting government interference, while intended to protect football autonomy, has inadvertently shielded corrupt NFF officials from accountability. FIFA requires its member associations to be free from government control, which NFF officials have used to bypass stringent national financial handling systems like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and statutory audit inspections. This lack of oversight provides an environment conducive to financial mismanagement. The NFF, like a spoiled child of a wealthy man, lacks financial and administrative autonomy, leaving it at the mercy of others and creating no incentive for serious work.
The Nigeria Football Federation wishes to openly and sincerely apologise to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), to the Federal Government as a whole; and to millions of Nigerians, most especially our passionate, loyal football fans, following the .
— The NFF (@thenff) November 17, 2025
Recently, the Voice of Nigeria published that the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over allegations of misappropriation and poor management of $25 million in grants received from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 2015 and 2025. Football in Nigeria will continue to go down unless something is done. The government needs to stop covering up corrupt administrators.
A Call for Complete Overhaul and Restructuring
The Super Eagles of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for a second time for the second successive edition after succumbing to a 4-3 loss on penalties against DR Congo in the CAF World Cup playoff final at the Moulay Hassan Stadium on Sunday night is the wake-up call Nigeria desperately needs. We must stop hoping for miracles and accept that failure is the necessary catalyst for change. The time for lamentation is over. We need a complete overhaul and restructuring of the NFF, starting now.
Key steps include:
- Creating an Independent Football Regulator to provide checks and balances against financial, administrative, and structural mismanagement.
- Hiring an experienced football consultant to diagnose challenges and propose concrete solutions.
- Initiating open round-table discussions with the media, players, the federation, and stakeholders to ensure transparency and collective solution-finding.
The current pain of failure, shame, and disgrace must be the motivation to finally rebuild, regroup, and ensure that Nigerian football rises again, built on a foundation of structure, accountability, and long-term vision.
