Ogedegbe urges Nigerian football changes from the ground up

Former Nigeria international Nathaniel Ogedegbe has called for a complete rebuilding of football in Nigeria from the grassroots. He wants President Bola Tinubu to look beyond just changing leaders at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and instead focus on fixing the whole football system.

In an open letter to the President, Ogedegbe said that the resignation of the NFF president, general secretary, and executive committee after the World Cup failures of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons does not mean real reform has taken place.

He stated that Tinubu’s call for reform correctly identified issues like weak governance, limited representation, broken pathways for players, struggling domestic leagues, and a lack of accountability within the sport. But he warned that simply replacing football leaders without fixing the system would only lead to the same problems repeating.

Ogedegbe urged the country to bring back the pathways that connected schools, domestic clubs, youth teams, and the national team, while also learning from Spain, France, and Morocco.

He called for competitive football to return to schools. He wants clubs to take responsibility for developing players and caring for their welfare. He also suggested that NFF elections should be fairer and more representative, with funding that is transparent and accountable to the public.

The former international, who played for Nigeria in the 1980s, shared his own experiences to show how strong the country's old development pathway was. He remembered playing in the Lagos State Principals’ Cup for St. Finbarr’s College, where he was one of six players invited to join the Flying Eagles, along with Henry Nwosu, before both were later called to the senior national team.

“I know the value of this system because it shaped my own journey,” he said.

He pointed out other notable players from the school and league system, including Godwin Odiye, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Segun Odegbami, and Godwin Iwelumo. He noted that domestic clubs produced the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, while schools in Lagos contributed to the Under-16 World champions in 1985. He also mentioned Stephen Keshi, who rose from school football to captain the 1994 AFCON-winning team and later coached Nigeria to the 2013 title.

Ogedegbe compared Nigeria to other footballing nations. He noted that Spain’s 2026 World Cup-winning coach, Luis de la Fuente, had previously managed the country’s U-19, U-21, and Olympic teams. He also pointed out that France has close to 1,000 school sports sections in addition to its scouting and academy network. He highlighted Morocco’s journey to the 2022 World Cup semi-final as proof of the benefits of consistent investment in facilities and coaching.

Ogedegbe, who heads the Nathaniel Ogedegbe Soccer Foundation and works at Flawless Soccer Academy, said Nigerians need to stop looking for quick solutions and instead take ownership of the process.

“Nigerians must stop seeking a saviour promising instant trophies,” he said.

“Do not merely fill the vacant offices. Rebuild the system.”