Nigeria’s Football Problem Is Bigger Than the NFF Board — Awogu Calls for Talent Investment and Professional Management

Nigeria’s Football Problem Is Bigger Than the NFF Board — Awogu Calls for Talent Investment and Professional Management

Ohis Asein

Former DSTV West Africa Head of Outside Broadcast and Studio, Owelle Felix Awogu, has identified poor investment in talent discovery and inadequate football facilities as major factors responsible for the declining state of Nigerian football, while calling for a professional Chief Executive Officer to run the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Awogu believes Nigeria must look beyond the politics of who occupies positions on football boards and instead build a sustainable structure capable of producing and developing talents across the country.

Speaking on the way forward for Nigerian football, the respected broadcast executive said the country currently lacks the basic facilities required to properly discover and nurture young footballers.

«“I think one of the major problems bedevilling our football is the inability to invest in talent discovery. We currently lack basic facilities across the country.”»

He pointed to the Maracana Stadium in Ajegunle, Lagos, as one of the few facilities serving a large football community and argued that similar investments are urgently needed in other parts of the country.

Awogu also commended Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for what he described as a major investment in football infrastructure, saying the development should encourage other state governments to follow suit.

He believes Nigeria should embark on what he described as a “facilities development revolution”, using the country's 774 local government areas as a foundation for grassroots football development.

According to him, if every local government could develop one or two quality football facilities, Nigeria's football landscape could be transformed within a short period.

«“With 774 local governments in Nigeria, it will be great if we start a facilities development revolution, with every local government area building one or two facilities. This will transform our football landscape.”»

For Awogu, however, infrastructure alone will not solve the problem. He believes the country also needs a strong administrative structure that can survive changes in leadership.

He argued that football boards are often influenced by politics, making it less important who occupies a particular position if the system itself is weak.

«“I think it's a system that we need to put in place. Boards are political and it doesn't matter who's there. Once you don't have the right structure in place, no board can succeed.”»

Awogu therefore proposed a major professionalisation of the administration of Nigerian football, insisting that the NFF should look beyond political appointments and recruit a competent professional to serve as its Chief Executive Officer.

«“We have to look inward and hire a professional CEO to run the NFF.”»

His position comes amid growing concerns over the direction of Nigerian football, with stakeholders demanding stronger grassroots development, better facilities, improved administration and a system capable of consistently producing talents for the national teams and professional clubs.

For Awogu, the solution is not simply another change of leadership. It is the creation of a football system that can work regardless of who occupies the boardroom.

His message is clear: Nigeria must stop waiting for football miracles and start building the infrastructure, talent-development system and professional administration required to produce them.