The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has continued to draw public criticism over allegations of poor management, financial irregularities, and neglect of player welfare — issues that have persisted for years within the nation’s football administration.
At different times, both players and coaches have openly expressed dissatisfaction with the federation’s handling of key matters, particularly those related to funding and the welfare of national teams.
The most recent controversy involves the $1.2 million grant awarded to the NFF by FIFA for stadium development and youth football initiatives.
The global football body, FIFA, sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria after it showcased the Birnin Kebbi Stadium project in Kebbi State — a facility co-funded with the NFF — on its official social media platforms.
On Saturday, October 25, FIFA updated its official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook banners with an image of the half-completed Birnin Kebbi Stadium, a project dating back to 2023.
The image, meant to highlight progress under the FIFA Forward Programme, instead triggered outrage online. Many Nigerians viewed the post as a subtle criticism of the NFF amid ongoing allegations of misappropriation of football development funds.
The backlash intensified following claims by football critic Chinedu Mobike, who, through his Instagram hand, alleged on October 23, 2025, that the NFF had misused millions of dollars meant for infrastructure projects, including twin stadiums in Kebbi and Delta States.
Mobike said in his viral video, “FIFA gave the NFF 1.2 million dollars for two stadiums” — one in Kebbi and another in Ugborodo, Delta State — which, he alleged, till today did not see daylight.
Former Super Eagles captain and former Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, also revisited his long-standing grievances with the NFF regarding poor welfare during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He said, “When I represented my country at the Olympics in Brazil, we had to fly there, and we waited from morning till night, waiting for a plane to take us to Brazil. There was no plane to take us to Brazil because there was infighting behind the scenes over who was going to pick up the tab.
“The FA didn’t want to pick up the tab, the government, I think, released the money, but the FA or whoever got the money into his hands refused to release the money.
“So we waited at the airport from morning till night, but there was no flight. I had to pay for that flight to take us to Brazil. And these are little things.”
“I had to sort out my hotel because the hotel they provided for us were so bad to stay in. I had to move to somewhere more conducive for players to perform,” Mikel added.
Similarly, former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh disclosed that he declined to take legal action against the NFF despite being owed unpaid salaries. The 51-year-old revealed he was still owed $26,000 from his tenure as national team coach between 2015 and 2016.
“Till today, I am the only Nigerian coach who ever resigned. And till today, they are still owing me two months’ salary, which is $26,000,” Oliseh said.
He explained that his decision not to sue the federation stemmed from a desire not to be seen as working against his country.
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade also voiced her frustration over the non-payment of promised allowances and bonuses to the national women’s team.
Following the team’s record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory in Morocco, President Bola Tinubu announced a $100,000 reward for each player in July 2025. However, Ajibade revealed that the players had yet to receive the funds or other entitlements.
“We have not received our money oo. Please, they have not paid. All the promises you heard back and forth, we have not received anything,” she said during an appearance on the talk show With Chude, hosted by Chude Jideonwo.
Ajibade further stated that despite being told the money had been allocated, the players had not received any payments.
“People are begging. We have not received it. When they pay it, you will see. Even our match bonuses and everything, everything is still a work in progress,” she lamented.
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