Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has thrown his support behind the current leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, insisting that the federation has made measurable progress despite recent criticism.
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Olopade was reacting to comments by former NFF president Amaju Pinnick, who claimed Nigeria would have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if he were still in charge.
The NSC boss dismissed suggestions that the present administration had failed, stressing that football development should be assessed beyond a single outcome.
“It is important to judge progress holistically,” Olopade said. “The current NFF leadership has recorded notable achievements and deserves credit for the work done so far.”
He pointed to recent successes recorded under the watch of the present Nigeria Football Federation board, highlighting the strong performances of the women’s national teams and the Super Eagles’ bronze medal finish at the last Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Olopade, these achievements reflect stability and planning, rather than regression.
“The women’s teams have continued to excel, and the Super Eagles showed character by finishing on the podium at the last AFCON. These are not small achievements,” he added.
Olopade acknowledged that missing out on the World Cup was disappointing but warned against turning football administration into a blame game, noting that progress is often built through continuity and learning from setbacks.
He also emphasized the need for unity among stakeholders, urging football administrators, former officials and fans to rally behind the current structure instead of undermining it with divisive narratives.
“Football development is a process,” Olopade said. “What matters is learning, improving and supporting the system in place to achieve long-term success.”
The NSC boss reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the NFF to strengthen football development across all levels, expressing confidence that the lessons from recent disappointments will translate into better results in future competitions.
