Odegbami urges NSC to lead reforms amid Nigeria football crisis

Nigeria are top of their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 group with nine points from three matches. Former Super Eagles captain Segun Odegbami has urged the National Sports Commission to take charge of efforts to address what he sees as a deepening crisis in Nigerian football.

Odegbami believes the problems go beyond the results delivered by coaches and players. He has criticised the country’s football administration and said the NSC should begin reforms aimed at rebuilding the structures that govern and develop the sport.

Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 record is currently perfect, with three wins, no draws and eight goals scored against four conceded. Their wider recent form is less consistent: they lost 2-1 to Portugal, drew 2-2 with Poland, beat Jamaica 3-0 and Zimbabwe 2-0, before a 2-2 draw away to Jordan.

The former international’s intervention follows major setbacks for both senior national teams. The Super Eagles have missed the last two men’s FIFA World Cups, while the Super Falcons will not appear at the 2027 Women’s World Cup after a 2-1 play-off defeat by South Africa. That omission ends Nigeria’s record of appearing at every women’s World Cup.

Odegbami has also pointed to concerns around the Nigeria Football Federation’s electoral system and administrative structure. Critics have raised the length of time some football officials have remained in influential positions, the weakness of grassroots development and an electoral process seen as offering too little room for new leadership.

He acknowledged that government involvement in the affairs of a national federation could conflict with FIFA’s independence rules and expose Nigeria to sanctions. His position is that this risk should not stop the government and the NSC from confronting the governance problems, but that any intervention must preserve the country’s relationship with FIFA. He has called on the NFF leadership to accept responsibility and support a new direction for Nigerian football.