Nigerians rejects NFF apology, calls for football reforms persists
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Nigerians have rejected the apology tendered by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF over the dwindling fortunes of football in Africa’s most populous nation.
The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau had on behalf of the NFF Executive Committee has tendered their apology to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the failure of the women’s national team, Super Falcons to secure direct qualification to the 2027 FIFA women’s world cup.
However, the Super Falcon also buried their world cup hopes , after they fail to beat South Africa to secure a place in the FIFA Women’s world cup 2027 intercontinental playoff, losing to Banyana Banyana 2-1.
NFF in its apology said “ the Super Falcons and the entire Nigerian football family, wishes to express our deepest regrets, and sincere apologies to the Government and people of Nigeria following the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a direct qualification ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“We recognise the disappointment this result has caused millions of Nigerians who passionately support and identify with the Super Falcons. The team went into the competition carrying the hopes of the nation and the enormous goodwill and support of the Federal Government, and we regret that we were unable to deliver the result expected at this stage. We wish to extend a special and heartfelt apology to His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for this disappointment.
Millions of Nigerian football adherents have trooped to the use of the tools citizen journalism and conservative media to express their dissatisfaction over the performance of the Nigerian national football teams in all categories.
They lamented and expressed their dissatisfaction on the absence of the men’s national team from two consecutives FIFA men’s world cup.
The failure to register the Nigerian flag at the FIFA U-17, U-20 and the Olympics has further incurred the wrath of Nigerians, who accused the current NFF leadership of lacking the capacity to pilot the affairs of the most loved game in the country.
Renowned football expert and legal practitioner, Godwin Dudu Orumen said “When you look past the emotions, there are undeniable structural truths that emerge about the state of play in Nigerian football today.
“The decline across our national teams from the youth cadres (U17, U20) to the Super Eagles and Super Falcons is not an issue of bad luck. It is the logical outcome of a flawed ecosystem that produces incompetent leadership. While competitor nations invested heavily in coaching education, sports science, modern facilities, and structured youth pipelines, we relied on natural talent and an over-reliance on foreign-developed players. When the domestic core of our football is left underdeveloped, every national team eventually feels the strain.
He added that “critiques of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Statutes and the structure of its Executive Committee focus on structural imbalance, skewed voting power, and a lack of institutional checks and balances. Reformers, former administrators, and legal analysts frequently point to several core flaws
“The most widely cited flaw in the NFF Statutes is the voting composition of the NFF Congress. Out of the 44 voting delegates at the Congress (now surreptitiously increased to 53), 37 are Chairmen of the State Football Associations (plus the FCT). This gives the State FA Chairmen over 80% of the voting power, effectively forming a block that decides presidential elections and legislative amendments. Key technical stakeholders, such as the domestic leagues (NPFL, NWFL), players’ unions (PFAN), coaches’ associations, and referees are relegated to minority status. .” Mr Orumen queried.
A sports blogger reacting to the state of football in Nigeria, writes “ We can no longer afford to continue on a trajectory defined by failed missions and avoidable disappointments. Nigerian football needs transformational change and visionary leadership. What is required now is a total reset from the foundation.
A statement that has gone viral on the convergence media said
“Following the failures of the Super Eagles, Super Falcons, and other national teams, coupled with poor organisation of the NPFL and the failure to pay referees what they are owed, the blame does not lie solely with Ibrahim Gusau, Rabiu Ahalan, Baba Gana Kalli, and Sunusi.
“They have failed to bring meaningful progress in any area. they have turned the affairs of the NFF into a family-and-friends affair and have failed to attract major companies to invest in Domestic football.They have no justification for their failures, and they should be held accountable for their actions.
“If Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the NSC, and the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, allow these alleged corrupt individuals to remain in the forthcoming election, we Nigerians will never forgive them.
Foremost sports journalist of the TVC, Solomon Ajuziogu said that “Is this not sufficient for Ibrahim Gusau NFF to resign?This elimination of the Super Content Creators Women tells you how rotten our sport has become
Babatunde Ishola Ojo’s comments , which attracted massive support on social media platforms said “Under the current NFF, Nigeria have failed to qualify for 3 consecutive U17 World Cups, the Super Falcons endured their worst-ever WAFCON performance & we’ve now missed out on both the U20 AFCON & U20 World Cup.
“Yet, the Gusau-led administration are seeking re-election & getting support from some jokers including some journalists. Tueh!.
Well adored veteran sports journalist , Hameed Adio reacting to the current developments in Nigerian football said “Just too bad to see the WAFCON defending Champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons , running around the field like “eleven headless chickens”!
The popular sports platform, “Julie sports” stated that “This is the level of damage caused by the clueless people, political appointees, and political tourists running our sports sector and football federation.Shame on the NSC. Shame on the NFF.
The now popular slogans been peddled by Nigerians says “❌ Golden Eaglets – No U-17 AFCON, No FIFA U-17 World Cup❌ Flying Eagles – No U-20 AFCON, No FIFA U-20 World Cup❌ Super Eagles – No FIFA World Cup❌ Super Falcons – Knocked out in the WAFCON quarter-finals and failed to secure qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup
Ogbeide Osas Kennedy noted that “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! 🇳🇬⚽ It is time to reconstitute the NFF and bring in people who actually understand modern football administration. Enough of recycling the same system and expecting different results.
He added that “At this point, this is beyond bad luck. Something is fundamentally wrong with our football administration. We have the talents. We have the population. We have football-loving Nigerians everywhere. What we lack is proper leadership, planning, accountability and continuity. Stop managing Nigerian football like family business.”
According to him “Bring in professionals. Build a proper football structure. Develop grassroots football. Invest in coaches. Give national teams stability. And most importantly, hold people accountable for failure.
Izuchukwu Nkwazema says “This is no longer a joke. Nigerian football urgently needs reform.The Super Falcons, the pride of African women’s football, have been knocked out of the WAFCON after a 1–0 defeat to Cameroon. On the same day, the Flying Eagles were walloped 4–1 by Burkina Faso in the WAFU B U-20 final, a result that also cost Nigeria qualification for the 2027 U-20 AFCON. And we are supposed to accept this as normal?
“A country with Nigeria’s football history, talent and enormous pool of young players should not be repeatedly stumbling at competitions where we once commanded respect.
“The bigger embarrassment is that this is not an isolated incident. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup and have now also missed the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. That is two consecutive World Cups without Nigeria. So, what exactly are we building?
“How can a nation blessed with some of the best football talent in the world continue to produce such poor outcomes? How can the same old structures, personalities and interests continue to dominate Nigerian football while the game itself keeps going backwards? At what point do we stop protecting individuals and start protecting Nigerian football?
“We cannot continue to recycle the same leadership culture, the same politics, the same lack of accountability and the same excuses, then expect a different result.”He said.
Journalist and public commentator and analyst , Kemi Yusuf reacting to the suffocating state of Nigerian football stated that “When I joined patriotic supporters of the Super Falcons, the Super Eagles and all of our national teams to address a press conference, after a failed attempt to stage a peaceful protest at the national stadium, some people said we were doing too much.
“The #ReformOurFootball group which is spearheaded by Ifeoluwa Leo-Olagbaye and which I am a member, protested, among other issues, the lack of preparation ahead of WAFCON.
“The wonderful people at NFF said teams were afraid to play the Super Falcons, the same teams gave the 10-star champions a tough time before finally knocking them out of WAFCON!We at ##ReformOurFootball would love the President to take more than a passing glance at the upcoming NFF election.
“The current leadership of the NFF haven’t earned a second term. Also they are still being controlled by one incompetent and corrupt former NFF chairman who also was a monumental failure as NFF chairman.
Idris Olayemi Animshaun in his remarks said “Pinnick and co are no more there but they are still controlling from outside.This one worse pass anything and everything.
“If I have my way, I will just say the Federal Government should meddle into our football by sacking, arresting and trying all these uselessness.Maybe they should Kuku cancel football in Nigeria so that the Government can focus and invest on other sports.
He further suggested that “Enough is enough and we can’t continue in this manner.Federal Government should dismantle this NFF led administration and stops this clueless man from asking and seeking for another term.
Frontline sports writer, Leo Olagbye in a post on his handle that enjoys hundreds of thousand of followership says “NFF To President Tinubu – We are Sorry 😆😆😆.They said the same “We are Sorry” a year ago:1️⃣.When Super Eagles didn’t qualify for the World Cup, and were never really Sorry….👇🏾2️⃣.Refused to prepare the Ladies for their WAFCON defence.4️⃣.Wasted International windows when other responsible Federations were getting their players busy.5️⃣. Keeps destroying the age-grade football.6️⃣. Interfered in the selection of players to WAFCON2026, ensuring the legitimate players now shoulder the burden of their irresponsibility.
Alleging that “8️⃣. Ready to come bowl in hand begging for funds to execute playoffs knowing they will ship wives,side chicks, concubines and hungry FA Chairmen who vote them to come back to bury out football finally to watch the playoffs.
“9️⃣. Incapacitated to handle football in Nigeria. From Gusau(11years) Sanusi(Main Culprit 19years) and Dikko (18years). They all MUST GO….they have always been a part of the ROT.
