The Guild of Sports Editors in Nigeria has praised President Bola Tinubu for what it calls a brave move to reform Nigerian football. This follows the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation's leadership.
After an emergency meeting on Friday, the Guild said the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, the General Secretary, and the Executive Committee should signal the start of genuine reforms. They want more than just new faces in charge.
This change comes after many years of disappointment in Nigerian football. The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup back-to-back. Nigeria also missed out on the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups. Nigerian clubs have struggled in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. For the first time ever, the Super Falcons did not qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“The emotions and joy of Nigerians have repeatedly been shattered by the failures that have become our lot in football,” said Guild President Tony Ubani in a statement.
While appreciating Tinubu for facing the crisis, the Guild urged the National Sports Commission to make sure that any new normalisation committee includes people with integrity, skill, honesty, and a real commitment to developing football.
“The composition of the Normalisation Committee must not become another bazaar or an opportunity to compensate friends, girlfriends, political associates and cronies,” the statement warned.
“Nigeria needs people with fresh ideas, proven competence and unquestionable integrity to lead this reform process. Those who have contributed to the mess Nigerian football has become must not be recycled.”
The Guild also called for a clear mandate, membership criteria, and timetable for the committee. They warned that it should not turn into a permanent structure without a clear exit plan.
The proposed terms should include a thorough review of the rules and governance of Nigerian football. They also want a transparent electoral system and better accountability measures.
Moreover, the Guild wants the reform process to settle the key legal questions about the identity and status of the country’s football governing body. This includes issues about the names Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria Football Association.
“There is everything in a name. The legal foundation of Nigerian football must be properly addressed if the reforms are to stand the test of time,” the Guild said.
The Guild also demanded a full forensic audit of the NFF’s finances, contracts, assets, and activities. They insisted that the resignation of the old leadership should not stop ongoing investigations into claims of financial wrongdoing.
“Resignation is not immunity,” they stated.
“Anyone found to have abused his or her position or mismanaged the resources of Nigerian football must be held accountable. Whoever has dipped his hands into the cookie jar must face the consequences of such actions in accordance with the law.”
The Guild urged the government and the NSC to work with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football during this process. But they warned that fear of sanctions should not be an excuse for allowing incompetence or wrongdoing.
“Football autonomy must not be interpreted as freedom from accountability,” they said.
They also cautioned against using the reform process to recycle current administrators or maintain the same systems under a new name.
“We shall be watching. This opportunity must not be wasted or turned into another exercise in recycling the same people and preserving the same failed system under a different name.
“The objective must not simply be another election and another set of administrators. Nigeria must build a football system founded on transparency, competence, accountability and sustainable development.”
The Guild called Tinubu’s intervention a rare chance to rebuild Nigerian football. They urged the Federal Government and the NSC to ensure that the reform process leads to lasting and real change.
“Nigeria has suffered enough. Nigerian football must now be rebuilt.
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