Former Nigeria defender Sam Sodje has urged sweeping reforms within the Nigeria Football Federation, warning that the current system is holding Nigerian football back.
Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Sodje expressed deep concern over the administration and long-term direction of the Super Eagles.
According to him, meaningful progress will remain elusive unless the federation undergoes structural changes.
“It’s gone now—we have to start thinking about where we are as a country. The NFF has to be reformed, the old guards have to give way, and we have to understand that preparation is key,” he said.
Sodje stressed the importance of forward planning, noting that Nigeria is lagging behind both organizationally and technically.
“We have to start preparing for the next one because we are so behind when it comes to organization. Technically, we are so behind as well.”
He clarified that his criticism was not directed at the current coaching crew, including Eric Chelle, but rather at the federation’s technical committee.
“When I say technically, I am not talking about Eric Chelle and the technical crew of the national team. I am talking about the technical committee at the NFF—they have to do better.”
Sodje concluded by emphasizing the need for a clear footballing vision for Nigeria, insisting that fans deserve a better-run system.
“We have to know exactly what we want for our country—it’s not fair to the fans. We deserve better.”
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
