Thee Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club (ANFASSC), Nigeria’s foremost supporters’ organisation recognised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and endorsed by FIFA, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to convene a high-level stakeholder dialogue aimed at reviving Nigerian football and putting the game on a sustainable path of growth.
In a formal appeal addressed to the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, and copied to the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, ANFASSC said Nigerian football has experienced a sustained decline across several levels of the game, requiring urgent but constructive intervention from all relevant stakeholders.The supporters’ body, however, stressed that its appeal was not for the Presidency to interfere with the statutory autonomy of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as guaranteed by FIFA and CAF statutes.
Instead, ANFASSC requested a structured, transparent and solutions-driven dialogue involving the Presidency, the National Sports Commission, the NFF and recognised stakeholders, including the supporters’ organisation.
According to the group, such an engagement would provide an opportunity to develop a modern, well-governed and competitive football ecosystem anchored on partnership rather than confrontation. It also urged the President’s Office to indicate a timeframe for the proposed engagement, stressing that the challenges confronting Nigerian football require timely attention.
ANFASSC traced its concerns to the period following the assumption of office of Amaju Pinnick as NFF President in October 2014 and the subsequent administration led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who assumed office in October 2022. The organisation noted that Nigeria’s football fortunes have witnessed a worrying pattern of underachievement despite the country’s rich football history, vast talent pool and enormous passion for the sport.
The supporters’ club recalled that the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations under the previous NFF administration, while several setbacks have continued in different national-team categories. It cited the failure of the U-23 team to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the CHAN Eagles’ absence from the 2022 edition of the competition and the U-23 side’s failure to qualify for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
The group further expressed concern over the recent elimination of the Flying Eagles from the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification race following their defeat to Burkina Faso, as well as the failure of Nigeria’s U-17 team to qualify for the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and, consequently, the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
According to ANFASSC, the situation has become even more painful with the absence of both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons from the respective FIFA World Cup cycles. It noted that the Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo in the November 2025 African play-off final, while the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The organisation said the developments have understandably generated widespread concern among Nigerians at home and abroad, including former national team captains, football administrators and other stakeholders who believe that a country with Nigeria’s football pedigree deserves better results and stronger structures.
ANFASSC emphasised that its appeal was not intended to apportion blame but to draw attention to what it described as a pattern requiring thoughtful, strategic and forward-looking solutions. It called for renewed investment in grassroots football, stronger age-grade development programmes, improved technical and coaching structures, better welfare for players and officials, and a governance framework that promotes transparency and accountability.
The supporters’ organisation also expressed its readiness to participate constructively in any process initiated to reposition Nigerian football, pledging to contribute its network, experience and passion towards restoring the country’s national teams to a competitive position on the African and global stages.
Signed by the General Secretary of ANFASSC, Tiamiyu Ayuba, the appeal urged President Tinubu to give the matter favourable consideration in the interest of Nigerian football and the millions of Nigerians who regard the sport as a powerful source of national unity, identity and pride.
