Sports

Mikel Obi Has No Justification to Call for NFF Board Resignation

Published

1 year ago

September 12, 2025

By “Odogwu” Patrick Ngwaogu

John Mikel Obi remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers. As a former captain of the Super Eagles, an Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2013, and a UEFA Champions League medalist with Chelsea, his achievements on the pitch are beyond dispute.

However, success as a player does not confer the right to dictate the leadership structure of football administration in Nigeria.

Following the Super Eagles’ underwhelming showing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers — where the team currently sits third behind South Africa and Benin Republic after eight matches — Mikel Obi publicly called for the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board. His frustration is understandable, given the team’s performance, but his call lacks both legal and procedural justification.

Despite his legendary status, Mikel is not part of the NFF Congress — the body constitutionally empowered to elect or dissolve the board. He also holds no administrative position and does not represent any official football stakeholder group, such as clubs, state FAs, referees, coaches, or players’ unions. His public opinion, therefore, remains just that — an opinion. Popularity or past glory does not override established governance structures.

Moreover, reducing Nigeria’s football challenges to just the NFF board is simplistic and misleading. National team failures are multi-layered, often involving coaches, technical departments, players commitment, and broader institutional issues. Yes, the NFF has may have its flaws, but the blame cannot rest solely at its feet.

Mikel Obi’s call becomes even more questionable when we consider that he has not played an active role in the development of grassroots or domestic football in Nigeria since retiring. Constructive criticism is welcome, but meaningful change requires engagement, not grandstanding.

Furthermore, his comments ignore the broader challenges facing football administration in Nigeria: inconsistent government funding, infrastructural decay, inadequate support systems, and political interference. It is unfair to expect miracles from an NFF board that must operate within such a constrained and volatile environment.

His timing is also problematic. With two crucial matches remaining in the qualifiers, public calls for the board’s resignation can only breed instability, lower morale, and distract from the task ahead. A former captain of the national team should understand how damaging such disruptions can be to team cohesion and focus.

If Mikel has concerns about how Nigerian football is being run, there are structured channels to express them — including engagements with the National Sports Commission , the NFF Congress, or the appropriate judicial and regulatory bodies. Publicly demanding resignations without due process risks undermining institutional integrity and sets a dangerous precedent.

In conclusion, while Mikel Obi’s passion for Nigerian football is respected, football governance demands structure, law, and patience — not emotions or public pressure.

We understand, Mikel may be doing this to attract more viewers to his social media handles, but even at, Mikel has what it takes to return to the country to support the development of football instead of making noise from outside.

The NFF board should only resign if proven to have failed in its duties by the appropriate bodies, not because a former footballer — no matter how revered — insists so from the sidelines. If Mikel truly wants to influence change, he should invest in the game’s development from the ground up, rather than chase headlines with unsubstantiated demands.

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Sports

Nigeria Targets Grassroots Sports Revival as Tinubu’s Aide Adeboye Unveils National Sports Grassroots Summit

Published

16 hours ago

November 5, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeboye Adeyinka, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of grassroots sports development in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to prioritise youth empowerment, education and national development alongside medals and trophies.

Adeyinka stated this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference while announcing the 2026 National Grassroots Sports Summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19 at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The summit, with the theme, “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” is expected to bring together government officials, sports administrators, state and local government representatives, private-sector investors, development partners, coaches, athletes and other stakeholders.

The presidential aide stressed that sports development must be measured not only by international achievements but also by the number of young Nigerians whose lives are positively transformed through participation in sports.

He noted that while sporting excellence could lead some athletes to Olympic medals and World Cup glory, sports also offered millions of young people opportunities for education, personal development, employment and social inclusion.

“Sometimes, when we discuss sports development, we speak about stadiums, trophies, medals and international competitions.

“But I want us to remember that at the heart of every sporting achievement is a human being,” Adeyinka said.

He explained that participation in sports could help young Nigerians secure university scholarships, develop discipline, build confidence, acquire life skills and stay away from negative influences.

According to him, sports should be recognised as an important instrument for building character, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for young people, irrespective of their backgrounds.

On talent identification, Adeyinka expressed concern that Nigeria continues to lose potential sporting talents because many children lack access to adequate facilities, qualified coaches, encouragement and organised talent-discovery programmes.

He emphasised the need for an inclusive grassroots sports system that would provide equal opportunities for children in rural communities, public schools, underserved areas and different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The presidential aide maintained that a child’s sporting prospects should not be determined by geographical location, family background or connections to influential individuals.

He warned that without a coordinated approach to identifying and nurturing young talents, the country could continue to miss opportunities to discover future champions.

Adeyinka said the forthcoming summit was designed to develop a sustainable national framework for identifying, nurturing and supporting sporting talents across the 774 local government areas.

He added that the gathering would seek practical solutions to the challenges affecting grassroots sports administration rather than focus solely on speeches and ceremonial activities.

A major objective, he explained, was to move away from fragmented talent-discovery initiatives towards a coordinated national structure connecting school and community competitions with clubs, national competitions and international sporting opportunities.

The two-day summit will deliberate on five key areas: sports participation, talent development, infrastructure, the sports economy and international pathways.

Adeyinka expressed optimism that the recommendations from the summit would provide a roadmap for strengthening grassroots sports development, expanding youth participation and positioning sports as a viable contributor to Nigeria’s economic and social development.

He called on relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and work collectively towards building a sustainable grassroots sports system capable of identifying and developing talents across the country.

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