Owubokiri Calls for NFF Board Exit, Says Nigeria Needs Change

Former Nigeria international Richard Owubokiri has called for the Nigeria Football Federation board to resign, saying the country needs a fundamental change in how football is run. The former striker believes replacing coaches or making short-term adjustments will not solve the deeper problems affecting Nigerian football.

Owubokiri says the difficulties have been developing over a long period and that the existing administration has failed to use Nigeria’s considerable football talent effectively. In his view, the decline is not linked only to one disappointing campaign but to a structure that requires a complete rethink.

The former Super Eagles player represented Nigeria from 1982 to 1992 before building a successful career in Europe and elsewhere. His strongest period came in Portugal, where he played for Benfica and later became a leading figure at Boavista.

Owubokiri scored 30 league goals for Boavista in the 1991/92 season, finishing as Portugal’s top scorer. He also won the Portuguese Cup with the club and claimed a Portuguese league title during his time with Benfica. His career included further spells at Estrela Amadora and Belenenses, as well as clubs in Brazil, France and the Middle East.

That experience has shaped his call for a new direction in Nigerian football. Owubokiri believes the country still possesses the players and football culture needed to compete with Africa’s leading nations, but says progress will remain difficult while the current system stays in place.

His demand comes as criticism of the NFF leadership grows after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has also called for the board to leave, arguing that fresh leadership is necessary for the sport to move forward. Owubokiri’s position is that the response must go beyond changing coaches and address the administration itself.