Nigeria’s Football Needs a Grown-Up

A country that treats football like oxygen should not be gasping this frequently. Nigeria has now missed a second World Cup in a row.

It is no longer news that the Super Eagles fell to DR Congo in Rabat after a penalty shootout. But considered deeply, this result feels heavy, really something deeper than defeat. Unsurprisingly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) apologised and called for reform.

In reality, players had boycotted training earlier over unpaid bonuses. A playoff match followed; a penalty shootout decided everything. The manager hinted at voodoo. Former players blamed mismanagement. Fans saw a pattern that stretched beyond a poor night in Morocco.

Evidence grew quickly. A House of Representatives probe is tracking 25 million dollars in missing grants. Youth development has stalled. Grassroots programs struggle for funding. Selection battles linger while tired players face pressure without structure. Even substitutions in key matches raised questions of planning and tactical clarity.

Football administration has become the central suspect. Critics argue that the system produces failure with consistency. The NFF leadership insists on renewal ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Yet calls now focus on the presidency. Many say President Bola Tinubu must appoint a seasoned sports administrator whose mandate covers football directly.

Tinubu created the National Sports Commission last year and named Shehu Dikko as chairman. That role controls broader sports development. It does not fix the NFF. Stakeholders want a figure with technical depth and executive authority. Someone who understands football as a long-term investment rather than a public drama.

Nigeria still has a vibrant league. Ikorodu City, Nasarawa United, and Rivers United dominate the early standings. Talent remains abundant. What is missing is stewardship: the capacity to turn resources into a vision. The national team needs a manager. The system needs an adult.

A country of more than two hundred million people can produce a striker. Maybe it can finally produce an administrator, too.