NFF racing to another inglorious journey

NFF racing to another inglorious journey

Prince Harrison Jalla

A federation that lost back-to-back World Cup appearances within four years (2022–2026) should, by now, be weighing all options to open a new vista for its football development.

Charting a new course by bringing together the best hands in the country through seminars, workshops, and conferences to develop a blueprint or master plan—within a specific timeframe—could help bring Nigerian football to an even keel.

What did England do? They have not won the World Cup since 1966, yet their football is thriving. Why is the new Saudi Pro League, driven by our own Mike Emenalo, making progress? What have we done wrongly in attracting the private sector to Nigerian football? How do we rebuild the Super Eagles brand with the array of stars we have across the globe? What happened to our age-grade national teams and their transition programme?

These questions should be the preoccupation of a serious Nigeria Football Federation. All serious football-playing nations have a working document in line with their football culture, which they strictly adhere to and from which progress is measured. Success in football is not rocket science.

Sadly, the main concern of our own visionless NFF is rushing to Bayelsa to allocate votes to federating units they can railroad into voting for the same corrupt and defective structure. The rush is for cosmetic amendments to the NFF statutes to suit their band of charlatans who will continue to emerge.

That trajectory, we assure Nigerians, is gone forever. There is no going back in the struggle to achieve a good, democratic, and accountable governance structure in Nigerian football—one that is open to all.

How can we have a Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF in the gentleman above in the picture? In a country like Nigeria that has produced ex-players like Chief Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amiesimaka, Felix Owolabi, Emmanuel Okala, late Christian Chukwu, late Stephen Keshi, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Daniel Amokachi, Tijani Babangida, Taribo West, amongst others.

What is the pedigree of Alhaji Shariff Rabiu in Nigerian football?

Who appointed him? What impact has his appointment had on our football? Is the appointment based on merit?

The Technical Committee is the engine room and heartbeat of a federation’s football. Any federation that appoints a complete novice from inception is doomed to failure.

We certainly cannot continue like this. It is time to rebuild our football.

. Jalla is Chairman, Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts