The problem with Nigerian sports

Nigeria's sports sector is facing significant challenges, exemplified by the recent failures of its national teams, including the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, to qualify for World Cup tournaments. This performance has intensified scrutiny on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with widespread calls for the resignation of its president, Ibrahim Gusau, and even suggestions to postpone NFF elections.

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The news has not been good because Nigeria’s national teams, from U17 to the flagship Super Eagles and Super Falcons, have failed to qualify for World Cup outings.

However, the article argues that the problem extends beyond the NFF, pointing to a broader systemic issue in how Nigerian sports are managed. It asserts that countries serious about achieving success, particularly in events like the Olympic Games, do not run their sports programs in the manner Nigeria does.

A common point of contention across various sports federations in Nigeria is interference from the Ministry of Sports or the National Sports Commission. Despite international governing bodies like FIFA and World Athletics strictly prohibiting such interference, Nigerian officials continue to meddle in the affairs of elected sports boards.

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Calls for the resignation or outright ouster of its president, Ibrahim Gusau, are viral.

The article cites the tenure of former Minister of Sports Development, Sunday Dare, as a prime example. Dare allegedly caused the withdrawal of the D'Tigress basketball team from the 2022 world championship and initiated a dispute over a sponsorship deal between the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and Puma. This led to a shortage of kits for Nigerian athletes at the 2022 Olympics, despite the kits being available in the country.

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For me, though, the problem is not just with the NFF or Nigerian football alone, but with Nigerian sports and the way we run it.

Further examples of interference include Dare dictating the venue for a World Cup qualifier against Ghana, overriding the coach's preference. The article suggests that such actions by sports ministers demonstrate a pattern of overriding elected boards and structures, ultimately hindering the development and performance of Nigerian athletes and teams.

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No serious country or, put in another way, any country that wants to win Olympic Games medals, let alone gold, will run sports the way we do in Nigeria.