Former Nigeria international Duke Udi has said African football must first confront the issue of corruption within its own ranks before criticising FIFA’s proposed governance reforms, insisting the continent has little moral authority to oppose change while transparency remains a major challenge.
Udi was reacting to the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, a commercial initiative that had sparked debate among football stakeholders before FIFA shelved the plan.
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Speaking on the controversy, the former Super Eagles midfielder argued that the focus should be on improving governance within African football rather than directing criticism at FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Africa must first fix its own problems before criticising FIFA. Corruption has affected football administration across the continent, and that is something we have to address seriously,” Udi said.
The former international maintained that poor governance has slowed football development in many African countries, making it difficult for the continent to demand greater accountability from the global governing body.
“If our own systems are still struggling with transparency and accountability, then we don’t have the moral authority to oppose reforms elsewhere. We must lead by example,” he added.
Udi stressed that improving integrity within football administration should be a collective responsibility, calling on football leaders across Africa to embrace accountability and ensure resources meant for the development of the game are properly managed.
He noted that stronger governance structures would not only improve confidence in African football but also create a better environment for players, coaches and future generations to thrive.
The former midfielder believes lasting progress in African football will depend on transparent leadership, responsible administration and a genuine commitment to reform at every level of the game.
