Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Abiodun Baruwa has called for sweeping structural reforms within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), insisting that the country’s biggest challenge is not a lack of progress but poor organisation.
Baruwa, popularly known as Omo Alhaja during his playing days, said Nigerian football possesses capable administrators but lacks the administrative structure needed to compete consistently with the world’s leading football nations.
Speaking on the state of football administration in the country, the former international stressed that experience within the federation is valuable but cannot deliver results without a well-organised system to support it.
“Our problem is not progress, it’s structure,” Baruwa said, noting that the NFF must focus on building an efficient framework that clearly defines roles and responsibilities across all departments.
He argued that every unit within the federation should be staffed by qualified professionals who possess the expertise required to effectively carry out their duties and contribute to the overall development of the game.
According to Baruwa, assigning the right people to the right departments is essential for smooth operations. He warned that overlapping responsibilities often lead to conflicts, inefficiency and unnecessary distractions within football administration.
The former Shooting Stars goalkeeper maintained that a clearly defined organisational structure would improve coordination within the federation and allow officials to focus on their specific areas of responsibility. He added that strengthening internal systems would positively impact all levels of Nigerian football, from grassroots development to the senior national teams.
Baruwa’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the future of Nigerian football following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He insisted that improving organisation behind the scenes is just as important as performances on the pitch if Nigeria is to achieve sustained success.
