Nigeria’s sporting community has been thrown into confusion and outrage, following a shocking development in the nation’s flag football ecosystem, thereby raising a disturbing question.
Why is one individual openly defying the National Sports Commission (NSC)? Why is he taking wrong steps, after clear directives were given on unity, legality and proper governance?
Read Also: NSC Set To Approve Nigeria’s Official Flag Football Federation, Elections To Follow Immediately | Sports247 Nigeria
Barely weeks after the NSC, led by its chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the director-general, Hon. Bukola Olopade, issued a firm public statement warning that no individual or association is authorised to parade itself as the official representative of Nigeria in flag football, the president of Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), Babajide Akeredolu has taken an action many describe as a direct challenge to the authority of the federal government.
Despite being formally notified of the NSC’s stakeholders’ meeting —which was designed to end years of division and unite all groups under a single forthcoming federation — the NAFA president absented himself, choosing instead to operate independently of the national reconciliation process.
However, the real shock came days later. In a move viewed as dismissive, provocative and deliberately confrontational, he issued a formal letter to individuals he described as “stakeholders,” presenting himself as President of a national body and calling for collaboration under NAFA — the same organisation the NSC has repeatedly clearly stated cannot be recognised under its current name and structure.
This is happening at a time when the NSC has already:
*Announced that a unified Flag Football Federation will be inaugurated soon
*Offered all groups defined roles on the new board
*Established that no private body will be allowed to operate as a national authority
*Warned all parties against claiming national leadership before the federation’s formal launch
Surprisingly, the NAFA president has gone ahead to circulate a long proposal positioning NAFA as the central figure of authority, while also asking stakeholders to ‘state their organisation’s history, role in the ecosystem, and willingness to collaborate’ under his leadership.
Stakeholders are now asking: Is This Open Rebellion? At the same tine, many observers are calling his action an unprecedented and provocative move.
A stakeholder asked, “How can the NSC announce that no one has the right to call themselves national leaders until the Federation is formed, and days later, someone is sending out letters addressing himself as president?”
While reacting to the development, a senior sports administrator described it bluntly: “This is not collaboration. This is an attempt to establish control before the legitimate federation is inaugurated. It undermines the NSC and destabilises the progress already made.”
Many stakeholders also point to what has been severally described as ‘a troubling pattern of non-compliance.’ Among the several worrisome patterns that are now unfolding are:
*His refusal to attend the NSC-sanctioned reconciliation meeting
*Refusal to comply with the NSC directive to stop parading as a national authority
*Refusal to change the name, after the sports ministry clearly stated that “Nigeria American Football” cannot be approved as the tag of a governing body in the country under Nigerian sports law.
*The sudden push to reposition NAFA as the country’s central governing force despite government warnings
Consequently, stakeholders suggest that these actiibs amount to a direct confrontation with the legally established sports authority of Nigeria.
Why Now — One Week Before Federation Announcement?
Perhaps the most alarming aspect is the timing.
The NSC announced that the official Flag Football Federation — the only Nigerian body recognised by the government — will be unveiled within days.
So why is NAFA attempting to gather stakeholders under its umbrella now?
Sports analysts say the intention is clear:
“It looks like a last-minute attempt to consolidate influence, to appear as though NAFA is the true national leader just before the actual federation is formed.”
The public now demands answers. Across Nigeria’s sports community, one question is echoing louder than ever: Why is one man daring the National Sports Commission?
With the NSC poised to unveil a unified, government-backed federation that will represent Nigeria globally – including at the Olympics – many believe this act of unilateral self-appointment risks throwing the sport into chaos.
Tge unanimoys verduxt now is: Unless decisive action is taken, the future of Nigerian flag football could be threatened before the new federation even begins.
