President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed deep concern over the country’s declining standards in youth football and announced plans to rebuild the system from the ground up.
Speaking in Abuja, Gusau said the federation is implementing a new long-term plan in line with FIFA’s development framework, aimed at identifying and nurturing talent from as early as age 14.
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The move, he said, is designed to ensure Nigeria regains its dominance in youth competitions globally.
“Over the years, we have seen our youth performances drop sharply compared to where we used to be. The time has come to start afresh and do things differently,” Gusau said.
“We cannot continue with business as usual and expect better results. The focus now is on proper player development, consistent monitoring, and providing the right facilities.”
Nigeria was once regarded as a powerhouse in youth football, producing stars through its U-17 and U-20 teams — including Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel, and Victor Osimhen — but recent performances have failed to match those heights.
Gusau noted that poor structures, lack of data, and limited grassroots investment had hindered talent discovery and development.
The NFF president also revealed that the new initiative will involve regional talent identification programmes, partnerships with schools and academies, and stricter age verification processes to ensure fairness and integrity.
He added that the federation is receiving strong support from the federal government and FIFA to improve facilities, coaching education, and youth competitions across the country.
“We are rebuilding a system that will serve Nigeria for the next 20 years,” Gusau said. “Our dream is to see Nigerian youth teams dominate again and produce players who can compete with the best in the world.”
