Former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green, has called for an urgent national football summit to tackle what he describes as the deep-rooted problems holding Nigerian football back.
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Green believes the country’s football challenges have reached a point where they can no longer be addressed by the NFF alone, urging stakeholders across government, the private sector, clubs, former players and football administrators to come together to chart a new course for the sport.
His comments come amid growing concerns over the state of Nigerian football, ranging from grassroots development and league administration to coaching structures, infrastructure and the performance of the national teams.
Speaking on the way forward, Green insisted that meaningful reforms would only emerge through collective dialogue rather than expecting the federation to shoulder the responsibility alone.
«”This is bigger than the NFF. We need a national football conference where every stakeholder can sit together and honestly discuss the problems confronting our game and agree on lasting solutions,” Green said.»
The former Rivers State FA chairman argued that Nigeria possesses an abundance of football talent capable of competing with the world’s best, but warned that poor planning and structural deficiencies continue to prevent the country from reaching its full potential.
According to him, solving the underlying issues would allow Nigerian football to recover from recent disappointments and regain its place among Africa’s leading football nations.
«”The talent has never been our problem. Once we fix the system and address these challenges properly, Nigerian football has everything it takes to recover the ground it has lost in recent years,” he added.»
Green’s remarks come at a time when the domestic game is undergoing significant discussions over governance reforms, improved funding for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and long-term technical development, while the Super Eagles continue their preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Over the years, several former internationals and football administrators have called for comprehensive reforms rather than piecemeal solutions, arguing that Nigeria’s football ecosystem requires coordinated planning from grassroots development to elite competition.
For Green, the message is simple: Nigeria’s football problems are national issues that demand national solutions, and only a united approach can restore the country’s status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
