Former Super Eagles captain Mutiu Adepoju has called for the findings and recommendations of the Nigeria Football Federation’s fact-finding committee to be taken seriously as the country moves ahead with its ongoing football reforms.
Adepoju, who served on the committee set up to investigate Nigeria’s recent setbacks in international football, said several issues identified during its work remain relevant to the current reform process.
The committee, inaugurated by the NFF in August, was tasked with investigating the causes of the poor performances of Nigeria’s national teams, with particular attention on the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It included former NFF General Secretary Fanny Amun as chairman, alongside Adepoju, Desire Oparanozie, Ladan Bosso and Alex Mana.
Adepoju said the committee made a number of findings after examining different aspects of Nigerian football and subsequently submitted recommendations on areas it believed required attention.
According to the former international, those recommendations should not be discarded simply because the NFF has now entered a broader reform process.
He believes the issues identified by the committee can provide useful input for the current restructuring of Nigerian football, particularly as authorities seek to address the administrative, technical and developmental challenges affecting the game.
The committee’s report examined areas including governance, financing, technical development, grassroots football, league administration, and national team management, with recommendations aimed at improving the overall structure of Nigerian football.
Adepoju’s comments come at a significant moment for the sport following the resignation of former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and his executive board, which has opened the door for a comprehensive reform of the federation.
The National Sports Commission has been pushing for changes to governance, administration, stakeholder representation, domestic competitions and football development, while FIFA has backed the reform roadmap.
For Adepoju, the work already done by the fact-finding committee should therefore form part of the conversation rather than being overlooked.
The former Real Sociedad and Reggiana midfielder remains one of the prominent ex-internationals involved in discussions about the future direction of Nigerian football, having combined his playing experience with involvement in football administration.
As the reform process gathers momentum, Adepoju believes the committee’s findings can help ensure that some of the problems previously identified are properly addressed.
The message is clear: Nigeria’s football reforms should build on the lessons and recommendations already contained in the fact-finding committee’s report
