Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, former Sports Minister, has called upon the Ministry of Sports to take proactive steps in guiding the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in its post-AFCON plans and charting the future course for the national team.
Abdullahi emphasized the importance of government intervention in setting policy directions for football development while acknowledging the need for minimal government interference in football matters.
Read Also: NFF President Assures Smooth Transition For Super Eagles Coach To Also Lead CHAN Eagles
He stressed that the federal government should play a pivotal role in providing policy guidance to the NFF.
“I believe that the National Sports Commission has a policy responsibility in this matter. While I advocate for limited government involvement in football operations, the federal government must take the lead in setting policy directions,” Abdullahi stated.
He further expressed his expectation for the Ministry of Sports to request a comprehensive report on the AFCON tournament, which would be analyzed by technical experts.
This report would serve as the foundation for discussions between the ministry and the NFF to address identified areas of concern and plan for the future.
Abdullahi highlighted the significance of addressing management, protocol, and organizational challenges, stressing that success in tournaments like AFCON transcends on-field performance.
“Experience has shown that tournament success hinges on various factors beyond the 90 minutes of play. Management, protocol, and organizational capabilities are very important.
Therefore, thorough examination and reflection on the tournament outcomes are necessary to derive valuable lessons for future planning,” Abdullahi remarked.
Abdullahi underscored the role of the Ministry of Sports or the National Sports Commission in providing leadership and direction to the NFF.
He urged stakeholders to collaborate in utilizing the lessons learned from AFCON to shape the future of Nigerian football.
