Beneath the Surface: Why the NFF’s Latest Scandal Signals a Deeper Governance Problem in Nigerian Football

Beneath the Surface: Why the NFF’s Latest Scandal Signals a Deeper Governance Problem in Nigerian Football

When the Birnin Kebbi Mini Stadium appeared on FIFA’s social media header this month, it was meant to celebrate progress, a visible product of FIFA’s development grants in Africa.
Instead, it ignited a firestorm.

The $1.19 million facility, reportedly built with FIFA funds, has become the face of Nigeria’s ongoing debate about how football money is spent and who benefits from it. Critics argue that the modest stadium fails to justify its multimillion-dollar price tag. Supporters say exchange rates and construction realities make the project’s cost reasonable. But one thing is clear: the questions go far beyond a single building in Kebbi.

A familiar controversy reborn

A few weeks earlier, former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh revived a decades-old debate on the Home Turf podcast. He accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of pocketing $1 million in prize money meant to be shared with players after Nigeria’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

“We qualified for the finals, and they disbanded the team. They made sure we did not get our share,” Oliseh said.
“The team that went to that World Cup, 80 percent of that team didn’t play in the qualifiers. That means they didn’t get the share of that money.”

His claim, though historic, resonated powerfully with fans frustrated by recent events. Within days, hashtags questioning the NFF’s integrity began trending on X (formerly Twitter), fuelled by images of the Kebbi stadium and discussions about how millions in FIFA and CAF grants have been used.

What the facts show

The NFF’s financial handling has been questioned before. According to BusinessDay, the House of Representatives has now resolved to probe the federation over alleged mismanagement of more than $25 million received from FIFA and CAF between 2015 and 2025.

Lawmakers cited:

A 2016 FIFA audit query showed ** $802,000** of a$ 1.1 million development grant was unaccounted for.
Investigations by Nigeria’s EFCC and ICPC into former NFF officials, including ex-president Amaju Pinnick, over suspected diversion of funds and sponsorship money.
The Birnin Kebbi Stadium project, which allegedly received $1.2 million but failed to meet international standards.

Rep. Adedayo Adesola, who sponsored the motion, told the House:

“There is an urgent need to halt further misuse of FIFA and CAF grants and ensure transparency in the management of football development funds.”

The motion passed unanimously, with the House setting up a special investigative committee to audit the NFF’s accounts from 2015 to date and summon its leadership for questioning.

Shades of grey

Sports broadcaster Wale Agbede told Daily Post that the controversy reflects years of underdevelopment and poor transparency in Nigerian football.

“It’s extremely difficult to determine if the NFF have acted in good faith or not,” he said.
“These funds run into millions of dollars, yet there are barely any good training pitches, and the stadiums have to be patched up before use.”

However, Agbede also offered a nuanced take: at the time of construction, $1.2 million was worth roughly ₦600 million, and inflation plus logistics could have limited the project’s scale. Still, he added, “more could have been done.”

The NFF, for its part, insists that all FIFA and CAF funds are audited annually and allocated strictly according to project requirements. In a statement released this week, it defended its spending and emphasised the high costs of national-team engagements.

Beyond scandal: the real issue

The larger problem isn’t only about whether money went missing; it’s about the absence of a visible, measurable impact. Nigeria’s football infrastructure remains stagnant. No Nigerian referees were selected for AFCON 2025. Domestic leagues struggle with logistics, player welfare, and poor venues.

Where things stand

The House probe could mark a turning point, if it’s pursued transparently and its findings made public. But few observers are optimistic.

Agbede summed up the prevailing mood:

“In other countries, when conversations like this come up, there’s usually a congressional or ministerial inquiry. Here, I don’t expect anything to come out of it. And if there has been corruption, I don’t expect heads to roll.”

Until accountability moves from hearings to tangible reforms, Nigeria’s football may remain trapped in this familiar cycle: one where every new scandal feels like déjà vu.