Nigeria’s five major football supporters’ clubs have welcomed the ongoing reforms in the country’s football administration, praising the National Sports Commission (NSC) and President Bola Tinubu for their efforts to reshape the game’s governance.
The supporters’ groups said they must be fully involved in the restructuring process, insisting they are recognised stakeholders in Nigerian football and should not be viewed as “mere spectators”.
The position was set out in a joint statement issued at the National Stadium in Lagos by the presidents of the five organisations: Vincent Okumagba of the Super Eagles Supporters Club (SESC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Kemi Ogunfuwa of the Football Fans Club of Nigeria (FFCN), Johnson Dagana of the All Sports Supporters Club (ASSC), and Sunny Gukong of the Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club (NESC).
The five groups said the reforms followed President Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive review of Nigerian football administration. The proposed overhaul has also received support from international football organisations FIFA and CAF.
The supporters’ clubs said the changes represented an important opportunity to improve the administration of the sport, while stressing that any reform must include the people and organisations who play an established role in Nigerian football.
“We sincerely appreciate the laudable ongoing reform in Nigeria football administration,” the communique stated.
The statement added: “Any Football Reform must be broad-based, consultative, and involve all recognised stakeholders, including Supporters Clubs.”
The supporters’ clubs also urged the wider football community to give the process its backing, concluding: “We support every genuine Football reform and call on all stakeholders to embrace the reforms.”
The five organisations are the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, the Super Eagles Supporters Club, the Football Fans Club of Nigeria, the All Sports Supporters Club, and the Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club.
Their intervention comes as Nigerian football undergoes a period of administrative restructuring, with supporters’ groups seeking a formal place in discussions about the sport’s future. Through their joint statement, they emphasised that their role extends beyond attending matches and providing vocal backing for teams.
The groups’ presidents said supporters’ clubs should be included in consultations as the reforms develop, rather than being left outside the decision-making process. Their call for a broad-based approach reflects their view that recognised stakeholders must be involved in shaping changes to football administration.
The statement represents a collective endorsement of the current reform programme, while also setting out the supporters’ clubs’ expectation that they will take part in the consultation and restructuring process.