NFF elective congress entangled in legal cobwebs

Nigeria's absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has ignited strong criticism from former football officials, who deem it an embarrassment for a nation once ranked among the world's elite. The Super Eagles' failure to qualify for consecutive World Cups has left many Nigerians bitter and questioning the state of the sport.

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It is something I don’t even want to think about. For a team that once ranked fifth in the whole world, it was embarrassing not to have qualified for the World Cup. It is a shame. It is not something that should be remembered or even thought about.

Rumson Victor Baribote, a former chairman of the League Management Company, described the situation as "unthinkable" and "a shame." He lamented Nigeria's inability to secure a spot in the Mundial, especially with ten African countries represented. Alhaji Sani Toro, former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the government's apparent lack of will to address the sport's decline.

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It is unfortunate that we have failed to go to the World Cup in two consecutive editions. Our football has gone down and the government doesn’t seem to have the will to do anything about it.

Former Nigeria international Edema Fuludu stressed the need for tangible action beyond mere discussions. "We must work on the talk," he insisted, warning against returning to the familiar cycle of "going back to the drawing board" without a concrete plan. Fuludu emphasized that Nigeria must be present in the next World Cup, implying that fundamental changes are required.

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Every Nigerian football fan is still bitter that in two consecutive World Cups we did not attend. It shows that we need to do more, apart from just talking. We must work on the talk.

However, fears of genuine reform are overshadowed by concerns about the upcoming NFF elective congress on September 26. Baribote suggested that in a more accountable environment, current leaders would have stepped aside. Toro expressed skepticism about the election's outcome, stating, "This coming election is already concluded." He anticipates that only minor personnel changes will occur, with the same individuals likely to remain in charge, thus perpetuating the status quo and resisting the change desperately needed for Nigerian football's resurgence.

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If we were in a saner clime, those who are at the helm of affairs should have humbly stepped aside honourably and relinquished their positions, but not here.