Reform Our Football Coalition Plans Nationwide Protest Over NFF Leadership

A coalition of football supporters, operating under the banner Reform Our Football, has announced plans for a nationwide protest this week, commencing in Abuja, to demand significant reforms within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The group has voiced its concerns over what it describes as “maladministration, incompetence, and corrupt leadership,” asserting that Nigerian football has “gradually collapsed” while a staggering 250 million citizens look on in silence.

“We are at the tipping point. We have reached the end of our tether and we will not remain silent any longer,” the group declared in an impassioned statement, signed by Leo Olagbaye, which was released on Sunday and has gained traction under the hashtag #TimeIsNow.

The planned protest comes on the heels of consecutive failures by the Super Eagles to qualify for the World Cup, a situation the coalition has deemed “unacceptable.” The group has also accused the NFF of “toying with the idea of setting up the Super Falcons for an abysmal performance at WAFCON 2026” by allegedly neglecting necessary preparations for the tournament, which holds World Cup qualification in the balance.

“Treating the Super Falcons like second-class citizens and refusing to adequately prepare them for a tournament where a World Cup ticket is at stake is the final straw for us,” the statement read, underscoring the urgency of their demands.

Furthermore, the coalition alleged that the Super Falcons, reigning champions of WAFCON 2024, are still owed outstanding bonuses and allowances from that tournament. They also highlighted that women’s international windows are being “consistently wasted,” with opportunities for growth and development squandered.

“Additionally, age-grade teams, including the under-17 and under-20 squads—both male and female—have been subjected to a backlog of unpaid allowances, while the NFF leadership indulges in extravagance,” the group stated, echoing their frustration over the current state of affairs.

The coalition lamented the decline of the Golden Eaglets, noting that Nigeria’s U-17 side remains the most successful in history, having secured five FIFA World Cup trophies. However, they pointed out that since the current administration took office under Dr. Mohammed Sanusi as the General Secretary of the NFF, the team has not qualified beyond the West African regional level (WAFU B), let alone for the World Cup, attributing this failure to poor treatment and planning.

The protesters have also turned their attention to the NFF’s electoral structure, asserting that the existing statutes, electoral code, and standing orders are “designed to favour the highest bidder, who is often the least qualified.”

“Fifty-three individuals cannot dictate the fate of 250 million Nigerians. We unequivocally say no,” the group asserted, emphasising that taxpayers fund the federation and therefore must hold it accountable.

The Abuja demonstration is set to commence this week, with the coalition indicating that similar protests will follow nationwide, signalling a growing movement for accountability and reform in Nigerian football.