NFF Congress Back Tinubu’s Football Reform,  Awaits FIFA, CAF Outcome

NFF Congress Back Tinubu’s Football Reform,  Awaits FIFA, CAF Outcome 

By Niyi Busari

Members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for comprehensive reforms in Nigerian football, describing the initiative as necessary to restore confidence, strengthen governance and place the sport on a sustainable path, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

The Congress members expressed their support after a meeting at Reno Hotel, Katampe, Abuja, on Thursday night, where they resolved to align with and support reforms that may emerge from the ongoing process.

The development came amid significant changes within the NFF, following the resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and other members of the federation’s Executive Committee.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Congress commended President Tinubu for what it described as his unprecedented support and funding for Nigerian football and sports generally.

The Congress acknowledged that Nigerian football requires what it termed an “urgent reform and hard reset” to address longstanding challenges in governance, transparency, accountability, stakeholder representation, domestic competitions and the overall development of the game.

“Members of the Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation, meeting at Reno Hotel, Katampe, Abuja, have welcomed and commended the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for comprehensive reform of Nigerian football,” the statement read.

“All members expressed their commitment to support and align with the reforms that may emerge from the process.”

The Congress also praised the President’s commitment to sports development, saying his support for football would help create a stronger foundation for the game.

The statement added that a delegation representing various zones and key football constituencies subsequently met with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, at the NSC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, August 28.

The delegation included representatives of players, coaches, referees, the media and other stakeholders.

During the meeting, Dikko briefed the delegation on the objectives and vision of President Tinubu’s reform agenda for football and the wider sports sector.

Discussions reportedly covered sports infrastructure development, funding, the potential of Nigeria’s sports economy and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE) framework.

Following the briefing, the Congress delegation pledged its “unconditional alignment and support” for the reform process.

The members said they would await the outcome of ongoing engagements involving the NSC, FIFA and CAF before supporting the activation and implementation of the reforms in line with an agreed roadmap and framework.

Congress further described football as a major national asset that must be integrated into the broader reform agenda of the federal government.

“All stakeholders must therefore be ready to embrace the reforms, and neither personal interests nor fears about taking the road less travelled, and the changes the reform may bring, should stand in the way of Nigerian football’s progress,” the statement added.

The Congress said it remained committed to playing its role in restoring confidence and stability within Nigerian football while working towards achieving lasting success on and off the pitch.

The latest development follows the resignation of Gusau and other members of the NFF leadership, a move that has paved the way for the Federal Government’s proposed restructuring of the administration of Nigerian football