President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the commencement of a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s football sector following a series of disappointing performances and failures by the country’s teams to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.
The President said the reform is necessary to address longstanding structural challenges affecting the administration and development of football in Nigeria.
According to him, the process must focus on strengthening governance, improving football administration, expanding stakeholder participation, developing sustainable talent pathways, enhancing domestic competitions and promoting greater accountability across the sport.
Tinubu noted that football remains Nigeria’s most popular sport and has historically received significant public attention, investment and government support. However, he expressed concern that the sport has continued to struggle despite the country’s abundance of football talent and widespread passion for the game.
The President maintained that Nigeria’s football development must be supported by stronger institutions capable of converting the country’s considerable talent and resources into consistent success on the international stage.
He therefore directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to collaborate with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to maintain essential football administration while initiating a broad and inclusive reform process.
The proposed reform is expected to involve consultations with key stakeholders within and outside Nigeria’s football ecosystem. The Federal Government will also engage with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) where necessary, while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.
The President’s directive comes amid growing concerns over the state of Nigerian football, particularly the inconsistent performance of the country’s national teams and challenges surrounding football administration and development.
Tinubu said the reform should provide a foundation for a more effective, transparent and sustainable football system capable of producing better results across domestic and international competitions.
He consequently urged football administrators, players, coaches, stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and contribute to efforts aimed at rebuilding the sport.
The Federal Government believes that a coordinated reform of the football system can help unlock Nigeria’s enormous football potential, improve the quality of domestic competitions and restore the country’s competitiveness on the continental and global stage.
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The directive was contained in a statement issued on August 27, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
