Sam Sodje, former Super Eagles defender, has urged a complete structural overhaul of the Nigeria Football Federation, citing stagnation and poor preparation in Nigerian football. Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Sodje emphasized that the current leadership and systems within the NFF are inadequate. He called for the old guard to step aside to make room for change, stressing that Nigeria is falling behind in both organization and technical development. Sodje clarified that his criticism was not directed at national team head coach Eric Chelle or his technical staff, but at the NFF's technical committee, which he believes is underperforming. "The NFF has to be reformed," Sodje stated. "We have to start preparing for the next one because we are so behind." He added that fans deserve better and that clarity of vision for Nigerian football is long overdue.
When Sodje says the NFF's technical committee must do better, he is pointing to a system where decisions are made without technical rigor or long-term planning. That critique hits harder because it comes from a former international defender who experienced the gaps firsthand. Reform is not about replacing names but rebuilding how football is governed in Nigeria — starting with accountability where it matters most.
