Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has delivered a strong verdict on the state of Nigerian football and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership.
Odegbami, one of Nigeria’s most respected former internationals, said the recent struggles involving the country’s national teams are evidence that those in charge of the game have failed in their responsibilities.
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He stated they must accept responsibility for the country’s recent failures and should not seek re-election.
For him, failure should have consequences.
And that consequence, he believes, should be the current NFF board stepping aside.
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
‘They have Failed’ – Odegbami
Speaking on the recent developments surrounding Nigeria’s national teams, Odegbami argued that football administrators should be judged by the same standards applied to coaches and players.
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He maintained that when a team fails to achieve its major objective, changes must follow.
Odegbami said:
“Once you fail to take your team to the World Cup, check, go try, you find that more often than not, they either sack you, or you go, or they vote you out.”
“It’s very simple. That’s the measure.”
According to the former Super Eagles star, qualification for major tournaments should be one of the clearest measures of whether football administrators have successfully carried out their responsibilities.
He believes the same principle that applies to players and coaches must also apply to those running the federation.
“If you have a coach that doesn’t do well, they sack him.”
“You have a player who is doing badly, you remove him.”
“You have to remove.”
Odegbami’s criticism was not presented as a personal attack against the members of the NFF board.
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Instead, he explained that his position was based on performance and accountability.
The former Nigeria international acknowledged that the people currently running Nigerian football are friends and colleagues within the football community, making the situation particularly difficult.
However, friendship, he argued, cannot be allowed to override accountability.
“So these guys have not succeeded. They are our friends. You see, that’s the painful thing.”
Odegbami said disagreements over the performance of football administrators should not automatically be interpreted as personal hostility.
He explained:
“We know each other. We are all in the business.”
“And when you champion that fact that they should go, they think they make you an enemy.”
For Odegbami, however, demanding change is not about creating enemies. It is about recognising failure and preventing the country from repeating the same mistakes.
(Brila FM)
