The Nigerian affiliate of the Africa Football Agents Association (AFAA-Nigeria) met with the Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, to discuss strategies for enhancing the standards and growth of football in Nigeria.
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The meeting took place at the NSC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, February 28, 2025, with AFAA-Nigeria’s delegation led by its President, Prince Michael Sodeke, alongside Oluwafemi Davies-Awe (Acting Secretary), Prince Gbenga Oluwanifise, Eddie Iseri Ogbemudia, and Destiny Omonigho.
During the discussion, the delegates outlined the association’s vision and objectives, focusing on the establishment of operational standards while calling for collaboration among all stakeholders in the Nigerian football ecosystem.
In his welcome remarks, Mallam Shehu Dikko acknowledged AFAA-Nigeria as an important stakeholder in the country’s football industry. He assured them that the NSC is committed to working with agents to ensure players’ welfare and improve representation standards in Nigerian football.
AFAA President, Prince Michael Sodeke disapprove the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its inaction in certain regulatory matters, that collaborative efforts made by AFAA are yet to yield success due to non responsiveness of the NFF to address these issues effectively.
Key Resolutions from the Meeting
Both parties agreed on several key action points to improve football management in Nigeria:
1. Strengthening Synergy Between NFF and AFAA-Nigeria
AFAA-Nigeria and the NFF must work closely to regulate football agents effectively and promote transparency in player representation.
2. Reinvestment into the Football Industry
Football agents should be encouraged to reinvest in grassroots football development, helping to create a sustainable talent pipeline.
3. Holistic Player’s Representation
Agents must prioritize the overall well-being of players, including financial literacy, career transition planning, and mental health support.
The NSC Chairman cited the recent death of a Nigerian player in Uganda, expressing concern that talented players should not be taken to countries where they may not experience significant growth.
4. Improving Players’ Welfare in the Domestic League
Eddie Iseri Ogbemudia stressed the need for better welfare policies for players in the Nigerian domestic league to discourage player migration to obscure leagues.
He also commended the NFF for setting up the Players’ Status Committee, which now helps resolve contractual disputes.
However, he criticized the NFF’s lack of urgency in handling cases, citing a recent instance of a Nigerian player stranded in a Ukrainian deportation camp, whose case was ignored despite official correspondence submitted to the office of the NFF General Secretary.
5. Mandating Licensed Agents in All Transfers
AFAA-Nigeria proposed a regulation requiring a licensed agent in all player transfers to ensure players receive proper legal and professional representation, especially those in the domestic league who struggle to understand contract terms.
6. Integrating Football into Education
The stakeholders emphasized the importance of bringing sports back into schools, advocating for policies that integrate football into academic curriculums for better player development.
In his closing remarks, Mallam Shehu Dikko commended AFAA-Nigeria’s commitment to professionalism and expressed the NSC’s willingness to work with the association to strengthen Nigerian football.
AFAA-Nigeria President, Prince Michael Sodeke, thanked the NSC Chairman for his support and reaffirmed the association’s dedication to raising industry standards and ensuring Nigerian players receive proper representation worldwide.
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