Former Super Eagles defender Juwon Oshaniwa has delivered a blunt verdict on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, insisting that conditions have deteriorated under the current administration.
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Rejecting claims that the board led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau has performed well, Oshaniwa argued that Nigerian football has regressed over the past four years.
“Things have gotten worse,” he stated, offering a stark contrast to more supportive views expressed by some stakeholders.
For Oshaniwa, the most visible evidence of this decline is the state of the domestic league.
He pointed to the struggles within the Nigerian league system, including reduced competitiveness, lower visibility, and structural challenges, as clear indicators that progress has stalled.
“Look at the league,” he implied, emphasizing that a strong domestic competition is essential for the overall health of football in the country.
According to the former defender, the gap between Nigeria and other footballing nations has widened, particularly in areas such as organization, development, and investment.
“We are falling behind,” he suggested, warning that continued neglect of the domestic game could have long-term consequences.
Oshaniwa’s comments reflect growing concern among stakeholders about the direction of Nigerian football, especially at the grassroots and league levels.
While the Super Eagles often dominate headlines, he believes the real issues lie deeper within the system.
For him, addressing these structural problems is key to restoring Nigeria’s status as a football powerhouse.
As debates around the NFF’s performance continue, Oshaniwa’s criticism adds to the pressure on the current leadership to deliver tangible improvements.
Because in football, success is built from the ground up.
And as he insists, if the foundation is weak, everything else will suffer.
