Nigerian football has reached a defining moment, and the time for real rebuilding is now, coaches in Ekiti State have declared.
In a press statement released in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the Ekiti State Coaches Association said the current turmoil in the Nigeria Football Federation should not be reduced to resignations and new appointments. Instead, it should trigger a complete review of the system that produces the country’s players.
“The recent developments within the Nigeria Football Federation have understandably generated concerns among football stakeholders and Nigerians generally,” the statement read.
“As coaches and practitioners who work directly with footballers, particularly at the grassroots, we believe this moment should not only be about the resignation of individuals or the search for new personalities to occupy offices. It should be an opportunity to take a critical look at the entire football system and ask ourselves what needs to change.”
‘Nigeria has talent, but no system’
The association, led by Chairman Coach Mayowa Afolabi, noted that Nigeria remains blessed with enormous football talent but has failed to build structures that discover, develop and retain players consistently.
It called for reforms that are “broad-based, transparent and inclusive,” with coaches, players, referees, State FAs, clubs and academies all given a voice in shaping the future of the game.
“Those who are on the pitch and at the grassroots understand the challenges confronting our game and should have a meaningful role in determining its future,” Afolabi stated.
Key demands
The Ekiti coaches listed priority areas for reform, including:
– Strengthening coaching education
– Grassroots development and youth competitions
– Football infrastructure
– Revamping the domestic leagues
– Creating a clear pathway for a young player discovered in Ekiti or anywhere in Nigeria to progress to professional football and the national teams
“For us in Ekiti, this is particularly important. We have talented young footballers across our communities. What they need is not merely encouragement, but functional structures, regular competitions, qualified coaches, facilities and genuine opportunities to progress,” the statement added.
‘We are interested in a system that works’
The association said it is not interested in personalities, but in accountable, professional and development-oriented leadership.
“Whoever eventually assumes responsibility for Nigerian football must be prepared to provide accountable, professional and development-oriented leadership. The priority should be the Nigerian footballer, the coach and the future of the game,” it stressed.
The coaches concluded that this is “not a time for recrimination. It is a time for reflection, responsibility and rebuilding,” and pledged their readiness to contribute ideas to any genuine process aimed at repositioning Nigerian football.
“Nigeria has the talent. Nigeria has the passion. What we need now is the structure, leadership and collective will to make our football work,” the statement concluded.
The call comes amid growing pressure on the NFF to address administrative and technical issues plaguing the game at all levels.
