The Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club (ANFASSC) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to convene a formal dialogue with the Presidency, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over what it sees as a prolonged deterioration in Nigerian football.
Copies of the letter were sent to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko. ANFASSC, which is recognised by the Confederation of African Football and backed by FIFA, said its proposal was not intended to undermine the NFF’s legal independence under FIFA and CAF regulations. Instead, it called for a collaborative process aimed at putting the sport on “a new, progressive course”.
The supporters’ body outlined three elements to its proposal: open discussions involving the Presidency, NSC, NFF and acknowledged stakeholders; a joint commitment to creating a “modern, well-governed and competitive football ecosystem”; and an indication from the President’s office of when the talks could commence.
ANFASSC linked the downturn to the period after Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and FIFA U-17 World Cup success under the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF, which began its tenure in October 2014, and extended its concerns to the administration headed by Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who has been in office since October 2022.
The Super Eagles failed to reach the 2015 and 2017 AFCON finals, with the setbacks continuing across the national-team system. Nigeria’s U-23 team did not make the 2024 Paris Olympics or the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, while the CHAN Eagles were absent from the 2022 tournament. The Flying Eagles’ bid for the 2027 U-20 AFCON ended with a 4-1 loss to Burkina Faso in August, and the U-17 team missed out on the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and consequently the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The biggest blows came when the Super Eagles lost a penalty shoot-out to DR Congo in the African play-off final in November 2025, ruling Nigeria out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Super Falcons also failed to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after South Africa defeated them in their play-off.
ANFASSC said this is the first World Cup cycle in which Nigeria’s men’s and women’s senior teams will both be missing from their respective tournaments.
“ANFASSC does not raise these concerns to assign blame but to responsibly highlight a pattern that calls for thoughtful, forward-looking intervention,” the letter said.
The organisation said the proposed talks should help revive funding for grassroots and youth development, improve coaching systems, strengthen welfare provisions for players and officials, and establish more open governance. It also offered to participate as a “constructive partner” in that effort.
