Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami, who won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, says the country is experiencing the "worst time" in its football history. Over the past 12 months, both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons failed to qualify for their respective FIFA World Cups. Nigeria also endured disappointing results at age-group level and in African club competitions, though the West Africans recently reached the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Women's World Cup.

Odegbami describes the situation as a "tectonic shift" for one of the continent's traditional powers, noting that it has never been this bad that Nigeria did not qualify for the World Cup. The crisis has triggered major changes within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with president Ibrahim Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and multiple executive committee members resigning last month. A joint delegation from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has been involved in discussions with the National Sports Commission (NSC) over the future structure of Nigerian football.

The parties are working towards a roadmap for comprehensive reforms, but NFF elections scheduled for 27 September have been suspended. President Bola Tinubu stated his desire for reform to overcome what he called "repeated failures". Emmanuel Ikpeme has been appointed NFF interim general secretary, with Ademola Olajire the interim deputy general secretary.

Nigerian sports journalist Fisayo Dairo believes any reform must extend beyond a change in leadership, calling for a proper framework and structure that our football can thrive on, including developing national teams, harnessing talent from the grassroots, and having governance that incorporates all forms of stakeholders. For Odegbami, the current situation is a stark contrast to the era in which he helped transform the Nigerian game, nicknamed 'Mathematical' for his precision and skill on the ball, the forward was part of the Super Eagles side that won the country's first continental title in 1980, beating Algeria 3-0 in the final in Lagos.