Calls for leadership change following Nigerian football failures

The Nigerian football landscape is facing a period of significant decline following a series of recent defeats. On a single Sunday, two national teams suffered losses, a trend that continued on Thursday night when the senior women's team also lost. These results follow a pattern of failure that has been evident since November, when a major male team missed out on a significant tournament in North Africa.

This recent string of losses affects almost every level of the national team structure. The senior men's team, the local side, the under-23s, the under-20s, and the under-17s have all experienced setbacks. Most notably, the under-17 boys have failed to participate in a major global tournament for six years, despite having previously won five titles at that level.

Despite these widespread failures across the male categories, the leadership in Abuja is seeking to remain in power for another four years. The current administration has defended its record by pointing to the success of the under-20 and under-17 female teams. This defense suggests that the achievements of the female athletes should offset the failures of the male teams.

However, the current leadership is being urged to take responsibility for the decline in the country's footballing status. While other nations have seen success in recent international competitions in locations such as Glasgow and Eugene, Nigeria's various male cadres continue to struggle. The argument is being made that the current officials should resign to allow for new leadership to revive the sport.

There is growing concern that if the current leadership is re-elected during the upcoming elections next month, the decline in Nigerian football will persist. The era of the 'golden generation' seen in 1994 and 1996 remains a distant memory as the various national teams continue to stumble on the international stage.