Members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress have thrown their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sweeping football reform agenda, promising to support a comprehensive restructuring of the country’s football administration as consultations with FIFA and CAF continue.
The endorsement came after a meeting of Congress members in Abuja on August 28, 2026, followed by a high-level engagement with National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko, who briefed delegates on the Federal Government’s vision for overhauling Nigerian football.
The development marks another significant step in the ongoing restructuring of the NFF following recent leadership changes and growing calls for governance reforms across the country’s football ecosystem.
Congress endorses Tinubu’s reform directive
Meeting at Reno Hotel in Katampe, Congress members unanimously welcomed President Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the lawmakers of Nigerian football praised the President’s commitment to the sport and pledged to align themselves with whatever reforms emerge from the ongoing consultation process.
They also commended the Federal Government’s continued financial support for Nigerian football.
“Members expressed their commitment to support and align with the reforms that may emerge from the process,” the statement said.
The Congress described Tinubu’s backing of football as unprecedented, noting that his administration’s investments have demonstrated a strong commitment to the growth of sports in Nigeria.
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Shehu Dikko outlines government’s vision
Following the Congress meeting, a delegation representing all six geopolitical zones and major football constituencies—including players, coaches, referees and media representatives—met with NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko at the commission’s headquarters.
While endorsing the reform process, Congress members acknowledged that key discussions are still ongoing between the NSC, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Rather than pushing for immediate unilateral action, the delegates pledged to await the outcome of those engagements before supporting the implementation of the agreed roadmap.
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“Members of Congress will await the outcome of the engagements among the NSC, FIFA and CAF,” the statement noted.
The approach is aimed at ensuring that any reforms comply with international football governance principles while addressing domestic concerns.
Putting football above personal interests
Congress members also delivered a broader message to stakeholders across Nigerian football.
They argued that football should be treated as a national asset whose future must take precedence over individual interests or resistance to change.
The statement urged administrators, clubs, players and other stakeholders to embrace the reform process, even if it requires difficult decisions.
According to the Congress, lasting progress will depend on collective cooperation rather than protecting existing power structures.
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The endorsement comes during one of the most significant periods of transition in Nigerian football administration.
Recent developments—including leadership changes within the NFF, governance reviews and increased collaboration between the Federal Government and international football bodies—have intensified discussions about the future of the sport.
By publicly backing President Tinubu’s reform agenda, the NFF Congress has positioned itself as a key stakeholder in shaping what could become the most extensive restructuring of Nigerian football governance in decades.
