Nigeria’s failure to qualify for a second consecutive FIFA World Cup has increased calls for changes in the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with former players and football stakeholders urging greater accountability from those in charge of the country’s football administration.
The pressure comes ahead of the federation’s next electoral cycle, as critics argue that the continued decline of the Super Eagles requires a major review of the structures governing Nigerian football.
Former Nigeria international and 1996 Olympic gold medallist Abiodun Obafemi said he supported any measure that could restore stability and success to the country’s football system, including a possible overhaul of the federation.
“Honestly, I agree with any action that will bring good to the football house, even if it is an overhaul. We just need a change. We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results,” Obafemi told PUNCH Sports Extra.
He said Nigeria’s failure to qualify for successive World Cups was unacceptable considering the country’s football pedigree and the quality of players available.
According to Obafemi, the Super Eagles had lost the fear factor they once commanded among opponents, adding that urgent measures were needed to restore Nigeria’s standing in African football.
Former Green Eagles captain and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami also described Nigeria’s absence from the tournament as a reflection of deeper problems within football administration rather than a shortage of talent.
“This is a very, very sad situation for us,” Odegbami said.
“There is no reason on earth that Nigeria should not have been one of the 10 African countries that went to that World Cup. As Nigerians, we should be one of the top one or two, not outside the top 10. Nobody can justify that. To miss back-to-back World Cups is a sad commentary on the state of our football,” he added.
The former captain said those responsible for managing the sport must accept accountability for the country’s decline.
“We cannot put the blame at the footsteps of anybody else but the administration that is in charge,” he said.
Odegbami argued that Nigeria needed to address repeated administrative failures rather than continue with approaches that had produced poor results.
He also pointed to the reduced excitement among Nigerians during the ongoing World Cup as evidence of the disappointment caused by the Super Eagles’ absence.
“Look at what is going on in the country. The World Cup is going on, there is no energy. We cannot even watch properly, and we are not enjoying it. The Nigerian government must not allow what brought us to this point to continue. They have to do something,” he said.
The debate over accountability has intensified following Italy’s decision to overhaul its football structure after a third successive failure to qualify for the World Cup, with some Nigerians calling for a similar review of the country’s football administration.
Several supporters have also criticised the NFF on social media, blaming poor leadership and governance for the Super Eagles’ decline.
However, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, said any leadership change at the NFF must follow due process and democratic procedures.
“I am not going to undemocratically push for a change. Any change must be done democratically,” Olopade said.
He also rejected suggestions that the current NFF board, led by Ibrahim Gusau, should take sole responsibility for Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualification failures.
Olopade argued that the first failure to qualify was recorded under the previous administration led by Amaju Pinnick.
“Apart from not qualifying for the World Cup, how did President Gusau and his board fail Nigeria? We need to be fair to one another. People keep saying they failed to qualify for two World Cups. No, that was Amaju Pinnick, and that consumed him,” he said.
He pointed to Nigeria’s performances at recent women’s international competitions and the Africa Cup of Nations as examples of progress under the current administration.
