Veteran Nigerian football figure Segun Odegbami has warned that replacing the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation will achieve nothing unless the country builds a sustainable administrative and developmental system from the ground up.

Speaking on Channels Television's breakfast programme on Friday, Odegbami argued that technical experts who are genuinely passionate about football must fill leadership roles — not political appointees — and that swapping one set of officials for another without structural reform will simply repeat old mistakes.

A moment of opportunity

The remarks came in the wake of NFF president Ibrahim Gusau's resignation, along with several board members. Odegbami described the departure as a rare opening to clean up Nigerian football's administration and install leadership focused on building long-term success.