NFF Under Fire: Jalla Warns Of ‘Inglorious Journey’ As Nigerian Football Falters

Chairman of Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, Prince Harrison Jalla, has issued a scathing critique of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), warning that the organization is “racing to another inglorious journey.”

In a strongly worded statement released to journalists on Sunday, Jalla decried the NFF’s perceived lack of vision and its failure to address the systemic issues plaguing Nigerian football.

Jalla’s statement comes in the wake of Nigeria’s back-to-back failures to qualify for the World Cup in 2022 and 2026, a stark indicator, he argues, of a federation adrift.

“A federation that lost back-to-back World Cup appearances within four years (2022–2026) should, by now, be weighing all options to open a new vista for its football development,” Jalla asserted. He emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy, suggesting that “charting a new course by bringing together the best hands in the country through seminars, workshops, and conferences to develop a blueprint or master plan—within a specific timeframe—could help bring Nigerian football to an even keel.”

Drawing parallels with successful football nations, Jalla questioned why Nigeria’s football infrastructure continues to stagnate. He pointed to England’s thriving football despite not winning a World Cup since 1966, and the rapid progress of the new Saudi Pro League, driven by Nigerian football icon Mike Emenalo. “What have we done wrongly in attracting the private sector to Nigerian football? How do we rebuild the Super Eagles brand with the array of stars we have across the globe? What happened to our age-grade national teams and their transition programme?” These, Jalla declared, “should be the preoccupation of a serious Nigeria Football Federation.”

The core of Jalla’s discontent lies in what he perceives as the NFF’s misplaced priorities. Instead of focusing on fundamental reforms, he claims, the federation is preoccupied with “rushing to Bayelsa to allocate votes to federating units they can railroad into voting for the same corrupt and defective structure.” He further alleged that this rush is for “cosmetic amendments to the NFF statutes to suit their band of charlatans who will continue to emerge.”

Jalla made it clear that this trajectory is no longer acceptable. “That trajectory, we assure Nigerians, is gone forever. There is no going back in the struggle to achieve a good, democratic, and accountable governance structure in Nigerian football—one that is open to all.”

A significant portion of Jalla’s statement was dedicated to the controversial appointment of Alhaji Shariff Rabiu as the Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF. He expressed profound dismay, questioning Rabiu’s pedigree in Nigerian football, his appointment process, and the impact he has had. “How can we have a Technical Committee Chairman of the NFF in the gentleman above in the picture? In a country like Nigeria that has produced ex-players like Chief Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amiesimaka, Felix Owolabi, Emmanuel Okala, late Christian Chukwu, late Stephen Keshi, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Daniel Amokachi, Tijani Babangida, Taribo West, amongst others,” Jalla passionately argued.

He underscored the critical role of the Technical Committee, calling it “the engine room and heartbeat of a federation’s football.” Jalla concluded with a stark warning: “Any federation that appoints a complete novice from inception is doomed to failure. We certainly cannot continue like this. It is time to rebuild our football.” The statement serves as a potent call to action, demanding immediate and fundamental changes within the NFF to rescue Nigerian football from its current predicament.