Within the wake of Nigeria’s continued struggles on the continental and international stage, most notably the Tremendous Eagles’ failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup since 2022 — Dr. Gabriel Ken Gaddafi, Senior Lecturer at ACLEDA College of Enterprise and CEO of KG Sports activities Academy and Rising Stars Worldwide Sports activities Academy, has outlined a complete seven-point blueprint designed to revive Nigerian soccer to worldwide relevance.
The revered sports activities improvement professional said that Nigeria’s soccer decline is rooted in deep-seated structural points that have to be urgently addressed by professionalism, transparency, and long-term strategic planning.
He highlighted the next key reforms:
1. Administration and Governance Reform
Dr. Gaddafi harassed that the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) should endure a full structural overhaul to rebuild credibility and operational effectivity. He beneficial an impartial audit of its funds, the introduction of a digital cost dashboard to finish recurring cost disputes, and a management reshuffle that prioritizes integrity and technical experience. He additionally proposed the creation of a Nationwide Staff Operations Directorate and the adoption of world greatest practices, citing Morocco as a mannequin.
2. Revitalizing Grassroots and Youth Improvement
To rebuild Nigeria’s expertise pipeline, he known as for a very structured nationwide youth system ranging from the U-15 degree. His suggestions embody fashionable soccer academies, improved coaching infrastructure, enhanced teaching training, and a stronger hyperlink between soccer and formal training. He additionally emphasised the necessity for clear and dependable age verification to guard Nigeria’s credibility in youth competitions.
3. Strengthening the Home League (NPFL)
Dr. Gaddafi famous {that a} robust Nigeria Premier Soccer League is important to long-term nationwide crew success. He urged the enforcement of membership licensing necessities, improved officiating requirements, enhanced media visibility, and established pathways for top-performing home-based gamers to transition easily into the Tremendous Eagles.
4. Modernizing the Nationwide Staff
He advocated for the appointment of a world-class, tactically astute coach able to implementing a contemporary soccer philosophy rooted in self-discipline and advantage. Staff alternatives, he harassed, have to be primarily based purely on efficiency, free from political or business affect.
5. Integrating Sports activities Science
Dr. Gaddafi emphasised the necessity to absolutely incorporate sports activities science into nationwide crew setups — together with efficiency evaluation, conditioning, harm prevention, and sports activities psychology — to raise gamers’ bodily and psychological readiness.
6. Defining a Tactical Identification
He known as for a unified taking part in philosophy throughout all nationwide groups, from the U-15s to the Tremendous Eagles, to make sure continuity, identification, and predictable improvement pathways.
7. Collaboration for Sustainable Reform
Gaddafi concluded by describing these reforms as a “nationwide emergency,” stressing that success would require coordinated efforts by the NFF, authorities companies, non-public stakeholders, and the broader soccer group.
