Julius OkorieIf the professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) is to have its way, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will not only be probed but will have its accounts audited by independent body.
The Chairman of PFAN Task Force, Harrison Jalla, who made the submission, challenged the NFF to account for funds the federation received from World soccer ruling body, FIFA, and Continental ruling body, CAF, between 2014 and 2024.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa reports that Jalla alleged in a statement he issued, that the NFF has misappropriated the sum of $21.1 million in grants in the last ten years.
He expressed disappointment that in spite of receiving the said fund the Glass House has continued to owe players allowances and bonuses.
He further alleged that the NFF owes even hotel bills despite the amount of funds released to them including the 12 billion naira Presidential Intervention Fund approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Sports Minister according to him ought to have ordered the account of the funds from CAF and FIFA before he pushed for the intervention fund.
He said, “What happened to these funds from FIFA and CAF from 2014-2024: $8.6m 2014 World Cup grant, $10m 2018 World Cup grant and FIFA Assisted Programme grant 2015: $2.5m?
“All these funds disappeared into thin air and translated into huge debts, outstanding hotel bills and outstanding match bonuses to Super Eagles players, the Falcons, and all strata of the national teams and coaches.
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“Without diligently, probing how the NFF found itself in this financial mess, the Honourable Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh, convinced President Tinubu to release an intervention fund of N12bn, which the President graciously approved. Even the N12bn, as we speak, is alleged to have been misappropriated, with only two in the outstanding match bonuses and allowances paid so far.”
Harrison Jalla added, “By January 2026, NFF would have received $18m from three cycles of the FIFA Forward programme with no tangible project on the ground, plus the steady FIFA annual grants to all its 211 members and CAF grants to all its 54 members. The recent CAF grant for the 2023 AFCON is estimated to be about $7m.
“Let’s leave out the billions of naira from corporate sponsorship and appropriation by the National Assembly through the federation account between 2014 to 2024.”
Groom Of Local Coaches Is Solution
Away from the funds brouhaha, Jalla frowned at NFF decision to search for a foreign coach following the resignation of Finidi George, adding that the nation ought to have a robust plan to nuture coaches worthy of handling the national team.
“Ten years of long-term planning should be more than sufficient to develop a robust technical department to upgrade Nigerian coaches for national team assignments. With the right people in charge of football in Nigeria—a country that was once ranked fifth best in the world—Nigeria should by now be the hub and centre for the training and development of African countries, not Europe or South America” he submitted.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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