Dr Adetilewa Adebajo, chairman of Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos, has written to FIFA asking it to recognise the contribution of his late father, Israel Adebajo, to Nigeria’s affiliation with world football’s governing body.
In a memorandum dated 25 July 2026 and addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Adebajo also called for the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerian Football Association (NFA) to be harmonised, arguing that the existence of both bodies has created confusion and hindered the development and commercialisation of football in Nigeria.
Adebajo described Stationery Stores as the oldest surviving private football club in Nigeria and said his memorandum was intended to begin structured discussions on historical recognition, football governance and possible reforms.
He asked FIFA to review, assess and, where appropriate, endorse his proposed reform framework before it is submitted to the Federal Government of Nigeria and other football stakeholders.
Call to recognise Israel Adebajo
A central part of the memorandum is the request for FIFA to acknowledge Israel Adebajo, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola and G.K.J. Amachree for their roles in Nigeria’s entry into the international football system.
Adebajo said Nigeria’s application for FIFA affiliation was submitted through the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1959 before being ratified at the FIFA Congress in 1960.
He said Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, then Nigeria’s Chief Justice and a leading figure in the country’s Olympic Movement, worked with Amachree and Israel Adebajo to complete the process. Amachree was described as the first chairman of the indigenous Nigerian Football Association, while Israel Adebajo was its first treasurer.
The Stationery Stores chairman said his father’s contribution merited particular attention because he founded the club in 1950.
“Stationery Stores Football Club is the oldest surviving private football club in Nigeria today founded in 1950,” the memorandum stated.
Adebajo also claimed that his father developed and co-sponsored Nigeria’s first appearance at a global football tournament, the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He said Stationery Stores supplied nine starting players for that team and had provided six captains to the Nigerian national side over the years.
“We therefore urge FIFA to expedite action on the recognition of the role of Israel Adebajo a football icon in Nigeria, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola and G.K.J. Amachree in the role they played with Nigeria’s FIFA affiliation,” he wrote.
Concerns over NFF and NFA
Adebajo argued that the NFF and NFA occupy conflicting positions within Nigeria’s football structure.
He said the Nigerian Football Association Act remains part of Nigerian law and establishes the NFA as a corporate body, including provisions concerning government funding and ministerial directives. At the same time, the NFF deals with FIFA and CAF on international football matters.
In his view, that arrangement leaves one organisation responsible for Nigeria’s international football relations while another retains a domestic legal and financial basis.
“The coexistence of the NFF a legal nonentity in Nigeria, as the operational body for FIFA and CAF relations and the NFA as a legal entity under Nigerian public law has produced ambiguity that undermines clarity, accountability, and confidence in football governance,” he stated.
He called for the structure to be examined against FIFA principles on accountability, institutional independence and the administration of the sport.
Adebajo said the issue had practical consequences, pointing to Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite Africa having a record 10 places at the tournament. He also cited the continued poor performances of Nigerian clubs in CAF competitions.
Stationery Stores’ decline from top-flight football was presented as another example of the difficulties facing privately owned clubs.
“The governance question is not abstract. Africa sent a record ten teams to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Nigeria was not among those representatives. For a country with Nigeria’s football tradition, infrastructure base, talent pool, and population, that absence strongly suggests that structural weakness in administrationhas become a sporting handicap,” Dr Adebajo said.
“As the oldest surviving football club in Nigeria Stationery Stores Football Club no longer plays in the top leagues. Why? The fundamentals of FIFA governance; independence of member associations, integrity of competitions, protection against undue influence, independent refereeingand disciplinary bodies, have not been upheld in the last thirty years in Nigerian football administration.
“Secondly the tried and tested model to achieve commercial success in football, which has beendemonstrated by the European leagues and FIFA’s recent US$15 billion revenue haul form the 2026 World Cup, has been stifled by football administrators in Nigeria. With minimum expenses of over US$1.0 million to play a season in the Nigerian Premier League, a winning team will at best get US$100,000 in prize money.
“There are no provisions for TV Rights, Sponsorship, Merchandising the basics for a successful commercial model. This puts private legacy clubs like Stationery Stores at a disadvantage, as majority of the clubs areowned by the sub national state governments, that fund and subsidize their teams with taxpayer funds and use the clubs as a political conduit. Football in Nigeria for the last 30 years in Nigeria remains a loss-making venture, subsidized by state governments, using taxpayers’ funds and high net worth football enthusiast.
Transfer market and commercial concerns
The memorandum also raised concerns about the focus on player transfers and the growth of unregulated academies.
Adebajo alleged that weaknesses in player registration and international transfer systems had left young Nigerian footballers exposed to exploitation, including human trafficking and modern slavery.
“The sad part of contemporary Nigerian football is the rush to make money from player transfers,” he wrote.
He further alleged that the administration of the game had been affected by “pre-determined outcomes, interference, and corruption”. He questioned government funding and political involvement, citing what he described as an approved budget allocation for World Cup preparation and participation despite Nigeria failing to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
Adebajo also criticised what he described as National Sports Commission interference in the domestic league, including an alleged attempt to set players’ salaries.
He presented those claims as evidence of the need for a fundamental restructuring of Nigerian football governance.
Proposed reform model
Adebajo wants professional clubs to have a greater role in the administration, funding and strategic direction of the domestic leagues.
He argued that membership of the football association should be connected to club ownership rather than political appointment. He also called for the repeal of what he referred to as Act 101, together with a new legal charter and protection framework for historic clubs.
His proposal is for a football association that operates coherently under Nigerian law while maintaining credible relationships with FIFA and CAF. He said that would provide a stronger platform for sponsorship, media partnerships and commercial investment.
The framework is based on five principles: increased participation by professional clubs, a new legal structure, commercial viability, transparent and independent governance, and the adoption of established international football models.
“We are not reinventing the wheel or experimenting. These are tried and tested models adopted and perfected by the European football leagues and FIFA,” Adebajo stated.
He said Nigeria had enough economic capacity to build a successful football industry if the necessary legal, regulatory and governance systems were put in place.
Five requests to FIFA
Adebajo’s memorandum concluded with five specific requests.
He asked FIFA to review and recognise the roles of Israel Adebajo, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola and G.K.J. Amachree in Nigeria’s affiliation process.
He also requested an examination of the implications of the continuing NFF-NFA structure, followed by structured talks involving FIFA, Stationery Stores and other credible stakeholders.
In addition, he asked FIFA to identify the appropriate procedure for formalising and supporting the reform plan before it is presented to the Nigerian government and football stakeholders.
His final request was for an urgent appointment with FIFA to discuss the issues raised in the memorandum.
“Stationery Stores Football Club as the oldest surviving club in Nigeria today, submits this memorandum with a keen sense of historical responsibility,” he wrote.
Adebajo said the club wanted to help restore Nigerian football to a sustainable path and urged Infantino to support a process that would turn discussions about African football development into practical reforms in Nigeria.
“We are of the opinion that our reform plan of action presented after consultation with key Nigerian football stakeholders, can deliver the desired results, only if it is supported with a Review, Critic and Endorsement process by FIFA,” Dr Adebajo stated.