Odegbami Hails Tinubu, Says NFF Shake-Up Opens Door for Nigerian Sports Revolution

Former Nigeria captain and football icon Segun Odegbami has described the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau and members of the NFF Executive Committee as the ‘perfect gift’ to mark his birthday, while declaring that Nigerian sports is now ‘on the cusp of a revolution.’

Odegbami said the timing of the NFF leadership’s resignation made the development even more special for him.

‘Even the elements joined in the conspiracy and the celebration,’ he wrote. ‘They ensured that the news of the resignation of the President and members of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, coincided with the marking of the anniversary of the day of my birth. It was a lovely birthday gift.’

The former Green Eagles captain congratulated Gusau and members of his board for what he described as taking ‘the honourable path’ of resignation, while acknowledging their efforts and contributions to the development of the game.

‘I congratulate Ibrahim Gusau for taking the honourable path of resigning along with his board members from the Executive Committee of the NFF,’ Odegbami said. ‘Whilst leaving, he recounted his major contributions to the game of football as a whole. I truly commend his contributions, industry and commitment.’

However, Odegbami said the performances of Nigeria’s various national teams ultimately defined the Gusau administration, describing the poor results as the ‘Albatross’ of the tenure.

‘However, that the various national teams did not do well enough was the Albatross of his tenure. That’s what people remember,’ he said. ‘‘Winning teams’ are the only measure of achievement in sport, in which case, his board fell short.’

Odegbami also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as bold decisions in Nigerian sports, saying previous governments had failed to confront long-standing problems in the sector.

‘I commend President Bolà Ahmed Tinubu for the bold decisions he has taken in sports, unlike previous governments that shied away from confronting the monster that had taken over Nigerian sports as a whole,’ he said.

He added that the backing given to the leadership of the National Sports Commission had helped the country move beyond what he described as the long-standing fear of sanctions from world football governing body FIFA.

‘BAT gave the leadership of the National Sports Commission the guidance, the backing and the confidence to take hard decisions needed to break free from the shackles of the fear of a FIFA ban,’ Odegbami said. ‘How the termination of the NFF tenure was handled is a master stroke.’

According to Odegbami, the latest developments have created an opportunity for a complete rethink of the governance of Nigerian football and other sports federations.

‘There is now space for fresh thinking, new ideas, and opportunity for a new vision in drafting new governance statutes that will produce the next set of administrators with the competency to take Nigerian football to the stratosphere,’ he said.

He warned that reforms in Nigerian football could have wider consequences across the country’s sporting structure.

‘What affects football affects all the other sports. What impacts the Nigerian Football Association will also impact other sports federations. What impacts all the federations will cascade to the Nigeria Olympic Committee that has been stagnated for decades.’

Declaring that Nigerian sports was entering a critical period, Odegbami urged the National Sports Commission to maintain the momentum and ensure that competent minds were brought together to shape the future.

‘Nigerian Sport is on the cusp of a revolution,’ he said. ‘These past 24 hours have been very indicative. The National Sports Commission are taking the right decisions and heading in the right direction.’

‘I hope they will sustain the momentum, create the platform and assemble the egg-heads with the capacity to shape the future of sports in Nigeria going forward!’

Odegbami also identified the legal status of the country’s football governing body, particularly the issue surrounding the names NFF and NFA, as a key matter that must be urgently resolved.

‘The first important issue to be quickly resolved is the legal status of the name of the organisation,’ he said. ‘There is everything in its name, NFF or NFA. I don’t expect that most people will understand this. But therein lies the difference between success and failure in the reforms ahead.’