Battle For Survival of Nigerian Football By Tunji Balogun

This was exactly what Waldrum complained about. The NFF is taking so much from the largesse and other benefits from women’s football but failed to invest in it.

Other African countries are busy investing in women’s football and have successfully bridged the gap. This present crop of NFF have nothing to offer Nigerian football, so they must go.

The late Ibrahim Galadima board failed to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2006 World Cup held in Germany and on that basis, he was voted out (even though he was accused of saying the World Cup is not our birthright). Somebody should tell me what the achievements of Ibrahim Musa Gusau and his predecessor, Pinnick Amaju (Mr bilateral) in Nigerian football.

This is a battle for the soul and survival of Nigerian football this current board of the NFF must go for the sake of Nigerian football. Nothing is working and seems some people are comfortable with it.

Let the protest begin in all streets, offices, markets and open places. Hashtag’NFF Must Go’ let people that have fresh ideas and something to offer assume the NFF office. At this point if FIFA wants to ban us let them ban without the FIFA ban, we are not making any meaningful progress.

In other climes and serious countries, this is enough reasons to honourably step down and keeps their dignity. But in Nigeria reserve is the case. From the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles to the Super Eagles and all the women’s national teams to the present state with the Super Falcons it has never been this so bad. If you mean well for Nigerian football, it is time to chase Gusau out of the Glass House and all his nonperforming board members.

Now Waldrum prophecy has come to pass. He said: ‘One day Nigeria may not qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.’ He stepped down because of what he saw thinking he gave excuses to attend to his sick wife was genuine, the man literally walked away. A team preparing for a big tournament like WAFCON didn’t have adequate preparation prior to the tournament while other serious countries were busy making adequate preparations.

The captain of the team, Rasheedat Ajibade complained about the shoddy preparations and ex international and technical committee member, Victor Ikpeba called her out to warned her to stop complaining. What manner of technical committee is being constituted with Ikpeba as a member. Now the damage is finally done.

This was a similar case with the Super Eagles after failure to qualify for the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar 2022 and recently concluded World Cup in USA/Mexico/Canada in 2026 respectively. Falcons is now hoping to qualify through the long playoffs rout that is not certain.

Even the competition based that we thought is the order day is no longer working while nobody is talking about developmental any longer. We now solely rely on foreign national players from top European countries willing to switch allegiance which is another colossal failure because we don’t have other options.

Tell Gusau and his cohorts to leave Nigerian football alone as the damage done already needs to be repaired. To damage is easy but to build or repair takes so much time to fix. I even heard that most state FA chairmen have already endorsed him (Gusau) to return for the second term few weeks to the next NFF election slated for September 27, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, North-Central Nigeria. To come back and do what? Everybody is feeling the effects hence we cannot afford to sit on the fence and watch all of us must be involved in the entire process.

This is not the Super Falcons we used to know, anybody that speaks become a victim. Oparanozie was stripped off her captaincy at some point because she spoke the truth. Enough is enough, before the damage is irredeemable, this current board of NFF must go and never happen to Nigerian football again!!!!

Tunji Balogun (SportingBalo) is a Canadian based international sports journalist