Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has called for urgent reforms in Nigerian football, describing the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup as a “wake-up call” for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The forward, who currently plays for Kano Pillars in the domestic league, made the comments in a strongly worded post on his official social media channels.

 

Reacting to the performances of African clubs in the newly expanded 32-team tournament, Musa praised their progress but lamented Nigeria’s absence from the global stage.

 

“I have been following the FIFA Club World Cup and my focus has been on the African clubs in the tournament. Apart from the excitement, the tournament is a money-spinner for African clubs,” Musa wrote.

 

Four African giants—Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)—are flying the continent’s flag at the tournament. But for Musa, their success highlights the growing gap between Nigeria’s football ecosystem and its continental rivals.

 

“It’s a sober reflection if we compare the African clubs at the Club World Cup to our domestic league, the Nigeria Premier Football League,” he continued. “Can we compete at this level? What are we not getting right?”

 

The 32-year-old veteran called for a comprehensive overhaul of the NPFL, emphasizing the need for better organization, sustainable club structures, improved funding, and policy reforms.

 

“The NPFL is not lacking in potential. Our football has got abundance of talent and potential from the grassroots to the elite level, but these factors aren’t enough in a modern football system,” he added.

 

Musa’s return to Kano Pillars for the 2024/2025 season has already brought renewed attention to the NPFL, but the former Leicester City and CSKA Moscow star believes systemic changes are necessary to truly elevate Nigerian football.

 

He also turned a spotlight on the state of refereeing, a long-standing source of controversy in Nigerian football.

 

“What about the referees and officiating? Other African countries are producing referees for CAF and FIFA tournaments, but what do we have here?”

 

Musa’s comments come amid global fanfare surrounding the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which features unprecedented financial stakes. The tournament’s $1 billion prize pool guarantees each participating African club $9.55 million, with the eventual champion capable of earning up to $125 million in bonuses and progression fees.

 

In closing, Musa called for a collective commitment to transformation:

 

“We must collectively decide to make our football work. That’s the only way we’ll see Nigerian clubs at the world stage again.”

 

His remarks have sparked conversations across social media and among football stakeholders, with many echoing his call for a strategic reset of Nigerian football’s governing structures.