Duro Ikhazuagbe
Ahead of the September 27, 2026 elective congress of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) scheduled to hold in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Chairman of Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reforms Initiative, Prince Harrison Jalla, has painted a gloomy picture for the future of football in Nigeria.
Jalla’s position is in tandem with same stand of some aspirants that are also crying blue murder that the procedure is skewed to favour incumbent President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, to have a smooth sail to a second term unopposed.
Speaking yesterday, Jalla, insisted that “all indicators are pointing to a gloomy picture for the future of Nigerian football, mainly due to administrative ineptitude, while the gladiators remain engrossed and fixated on an election scheduled for September 27, 2026.”
He insisted that the forthcoming election “is already sub-judice before the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/1120/2026 and the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1755/2026, with both cases demanding for reforms and the enforcement of pending court judgments.”
Jalla further stressed that both the National Sports Commission (NSC), which is the supervisory body of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Sports and the Senate Committee on Sports, “which have constitutional oversight functions over the activities of the Nigeria Football Federation, are watching from the sidelines as Nigerian football is being led to the slaughterhouse.”
The Advocacy Initiative Chairman further emphasised that there “are also two pending Presidential directives on comprehensive reforms. What more evidence does the NSC and the two chambers of the National Assembly need to perform their statutory functions, when our football is already heading towards the abyss?”
Jalla believes that Nigerian football has been hijacked since 2008. “The State Football Association chairmen have shown clearly over the years that they lack the capacity to move Nigerian football forward, simply because they cannot give what they do not have.”
He was fully in support of those previously interested in contesting for positions on the NFF board but were forced to jettison the idea because the outcome of the elections are already predetermined by the statute of the federation.
One of the initial candidates who spoke with THISDAY on condition of anonymity insisted that the guidelines in place makes it very difficult for any other candidates to secure endorsement from across the six geopolitical zones to challenge Gusau.
“Tomorrow Wednesday August 12, 2026 (today) is the deadline for the submission of forms but as I speak with you, I have been unable to secure endorsement in the North, South-South, South-East or South-West, with Lagos State the only body willing to sign my nomination form so far,” wailed the angry football administrator.
He alleged further that those who would have willingly endorsed his candidature are declining to sign out of fear of political victimisation,
This source challenged Gusau and his co-travellers to allow for free and fair elections without encumbrances if they are truly sure of their popularity amongst football stakeholders in the country.
“Why are they scared of allowing others to come into the race if they are really popular? If they are confident of their numbers, they should let all aspirants into the ballot and allow delegates decide on election day, rather than filtering the field beforehand,” queried the prospective aspirant who has now shelved his plan to take a shot at the leadership of Nigerian football.
In his final submission, Jalla, wants the Federal Government and relevant agencies to “intervene in the administrative crisis and entrenched corruption within Nigerian football, the better. Otherwise, we may soon find ourselves in a situation where self-help could lead to a breakdown of law and order.”