Babayaro warns Nigerian football faces more trouble despite NFF panel

Emmanuel Babayaro has warned that Nigerian football could face more difficult days despite the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to create a six-member fact-finding committee. The former Super Eagles goalkeeper believes the latest review will not change the country’s fortunes unless its findings lead to firm action.

The NFF formed the committee to investigate the recent setbacks suffered by Nigeria’s national teams and determine the reasons behind the poor results. Babayaro’s view is that the issues are already well known, after years of reviews and panels followed major disappointments without delivering lasting reform.

He argues that the central problem is the absence of suitably qualified people in positions where they can carry out meaningful changes. In his assessment, Nigerian football requires capable leadership and practical implementation rather than another round of discussion followed by limited action.

The former international has also called for stronger domestic development. He has previously urged the NFF and the National Sports Commission to create more opportunities for indigenous coaches and improve the production of homegrown players, reducing the heavy dependence on talent based abroad.

Babayaro’s concerns come after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons missed out on the 2027 Women’s World Cup for the first time. Those failures have renewed arguments for structural and leadership changes within Nigerian football, with other former internationals also demanding reform.

He is not limiting his involvement to criticism. Babayaro has confirmed that he plans to contest a seat on the NFF Board at the federation’s elective congress in September. His position is that progress will require competent administrators, stronger domestic structures and clear follow-through on any recommendations produced by the new committee.