Jalla faults NFF over technical committee’s leadership

Prince Harrison Jalla, Chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts (ANFRC), has issued a scathing assessment of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), accusing the body of steering Nigerian football toward “another inglorious journey.”

In a strongly worded statement, Jalla argued that a federation that oversaw back-to-back World Cup failures between 2022 and 2026 should be prioritizing a total overhaul rather than maintaining a “defective structure.”

The core of Jalla’s critique centers on the leadership of the NFF Technical Committee. Describing the committee as the “heartbeat” of any successful footballing nation, Jalla questioned the credentials of the current chairman, Alhaji Shariff Rabiu.

“The Technical Committee is the engine room of a federation’s football,” Jalla stated. “Any federation that appoints a complete novice to lead such a critical department is doomed to failure. We must ask: What is the pedigree of Alhaji Shariff Rabiu in Nigerian football? Was this appointment based on merit, and what impact has it had on our game?”

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Jalla highlighted the irony of the appointment in a nation boasting a rich registry of legendary ex-internationals. He cited icons such as Chief Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amiesimaka, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and Victor Ikpeba as the type of minds that should be guiding the nation’s technical direction.

Drawing comparisons to global success stories, Jalla pointed to the sustainability of English football and the rapid rise of the Saudi Pro League—the latter driven by Nigerian technical expert Michael Emenalo. He questioned why Nigeria has failed to attract private sector investment or maintain a functional age-grade transition program despite a “global array of stars.”

“Success in football is not rocket science,” Jalla remarked. “Serious nations adhere to a working document and a master plan. Instead, our visionless NFF is rushing to Bayelsa to coordinate cosmetic statutory amendments designed to protect a band of charlatans.”

The ANFRC Chairman vowed that the era of “railroading” votes and maintaining corrupt structures is over, promising that the struggle for a democratic and accountable governance structure will continue.

“We certainly cannot continue like this,” Jalla concluded. “The trajectory of failure is gone forever. It is time to rebuild our football and open the doors of governance to those who truly understand the game.”

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