By Godwin Bamigboye.

As at the time I began to type this write up on my Android phone, the atmosphere of Football in Nigeria, Africa and globally was filled with anxiety, expectation, permutations about the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire in the on going African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The previous match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea which ended draw (1-1), the missed goal chances, the competency of Jose Peseiro, the collective performance of the Super Eagles, the performance of Super Eagles debutant, Alhassan Yusuf, the exclusion of Sadiq on medical ground only to return to his Club, Real Soicedad and played a league match. The discussions were still on going up to the time the match was played and even as you read this piece, discussions are on going. That's the passion Nigerians have for the game. Football is a panacea to a lot of negative occurrences in the society. Needless going to details.

In view of the important roles the beautiful game plays in the life of Nigerians and Nigeria as a Nation, the game requires very serious attention the way the National Budget is prepared procedurally to the extent of being discussed and passed into law by the Legislature and subsequent assent by the President and Governor at the State Level. I think Football in Nigeria needs more attention so that at every level, the round pegs are identified and fitted into round holes. This brings me to the need for those at various levels of leadership of Football in Nigeria to do a SWOT Analysis of themselves. For the purpose of better understanding, SWOT is an acronym, that is, S (Strengths), W (Weaknesses), O (Opportunities), T (Threats). Let me borrow some lines from the Social Media for further explanation of SWOT Analysis.
"SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique that provides assessment tools.
Identifying core strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats leads to fact-based analysis, fresh perspectives, and new ideas.
A SWOT analysis pulls information internal sources (strengths of weaknesses of the specific company) as well as external forces that may have uncontrollable impacts to decisions (opportunities and threats).
SWOT analysis works best when diverse groups or voices within an organization are free to provide realistic data points rather than prescribed messaging.
Findings of a SWOT analysis are often synthesized to support a single objective or decision that a company is facing".

I want to believe that there are technocrats in Nigeria who have the capacity to transform the Football ecosystem to the standards obtainable in leading Football Nations. We have these technocrats among some of the current leaders at the NFF, State Football Association Level, Clubs, Academies, Coaches, Referees etc. What then is inhibiting the growth of Football. I guess the lack of deliberate plans and the will to pursue or drive these plans to realization have always been beclouded by corruption, political interests and other mundane purposes rather than the interest of the beautiful game. Rather than making the game beautiful, we make it otherwise. Despite all the incompetencies, the game-Football remains the only uniting force for the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

There is the urgent need for us to get serious and tap from the limitless opportunities available in Football as a huge business, as an empowerment structure for the youths in particular, a tool for Social Mobilization, an instrument for Peace and Development. They are so many.

We have seen the strength of Football. Are our leaders at various levels strong enough to maintain the strength of the game?. The weaknesses of the game are written all over. It is the strong in character and purpose that can eliminate the weaknesses. You already know that most of our Football leaders are weak. The Opportunities in Football are limitless. The Opportunities are waiting to be tapped by strong and selfless men. The Threats are there steering at us. We see all the threats at various levels. The players are not committed. They want to possibly from the "cradle" get a professional playing contract in Europe. The Club owners and Academies in some instances run "tax collection centres" in the name of Football Academies. Some league Clubs don't pay their players. They could be regarded as slave camps. Sad. Kudos to the NFF for birthing a new focus in talent development. Some Football Agents or Intermediaries have virtually turned Football in Nigeria to a gambling arena and competing for imposition of players on Coaches especially at the National Teams and Clubs. The Coaches who are indeed the fathers of players are also having their deficiencies. The Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) will need to do more. How are the Referees doing? Are they satisfied with their performance? Are the Nigerian Referees comfortable being excluded from major international Football engagements while smaller Nations are represented? There is the need for a SWOT Analysis. Match Commissioners, Assessors, League Organizers must do self assessment as some are already doing. The State Football Associations which are supposed to be in the vanguard of the realization of grassroots Football development are rather waiting for opportunities from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Some State Chairman are already rewriting the narratives. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also has its huge problems. I know that they know where the shoe pinches. They must work harder. The NFF Leadership must be skilled enough to contain its internal and external challenges. The SWOT Analysis of themselves will help them to improve.

In conclusion, the SWOT Analysis will make the actors in the Football ecosystem "Round Pegs" in "Round Holes". Let's do the Analysis now.