By Akeem Busari

 

The Nigeria Football Federation has assured Nigerians and in particular the Federation Government that the 2026 World Cup ticket is still within reach and they would do all that is possible for the Super Eagles to grab one. The promise was given as a part of the decisions and agreement reached at the 2024 Congress held in Asaba, Delta State.

 

Essentially, the Congress also approved the budget of N16.7b for the 2024/2025 football calendar of the NFF. Interestingly, this humongous budget is coming, few weeks after the Lagos State Football Association led by Hajji Gafar Liameed, had its unprecedented budget of N3.6 billion approved by its congress during its Annual General Assembly.

 

Football experts and stakeholders have come out in unison to admonish the NFF and indeed, all football bodies in Nigeria for transparency and utmost integrity, as the investors and particularly, the corporate world would hold them accountable for their positive or negative actions and inactions.

 

Renowned sports activist, Chief Diprieye Thompson, while applauding the Congress of the NFF for approving the huge budget, cautioned that the NFF should be financially prudent, as that is the only way to gain the confidence of the football investors and stakeholders.

 

Thompson also praised the board of  Lagos FA for setting an enviable benchmark in terms of organisation, policies and professionally structured financial base.

 

 He went ahead to advise other other State FAs to become proactive and creative towards achieving true football development and financial independence.