Abdullahi blasts NFF, NSC over IMC as supporters' unification is stalled
The Majority Chief Whip of the Sokoto State House of Assembly and National Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Hon. Zakari Abdullahi, has criticised the NFF and
- By Onyewuchi Nwachukwu
The Majority Chief Whip of the Sokoto State House of Assembly and National Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Hon. Zakari Abdullahi, has criticised the NFF and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their continued silence over the collapse of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) set up to unify supporters' groups.
Abdullahi expressed concern that months after the IMC's tenure expired, neither body has provided direction on next steps, despite the committee's failure to achieve its core mandate.
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The IMC, inaugurated on February 13, 2025, was tasked with harmonising six recognised supporters' clubs into a single entity. More than a year later, the objective remains unmet — no elections were conducted, and concerns over transparency, accountability and leadership persist.
The initiative was conceived to address divisions among supporters believed to be affecting the Super Eagles. NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi had cited concerns raised by former captain William Troost-Ekong over the impact of disunity on team morale. Although a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by all six groups, cracks soon emerged, with the NFSC and the Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club (ANFASSC) withdrawing confidence in IMC chairman Prince Vincent Okumagba.
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"It is unacceptable that after setting up a committee with clear objectives and timelines, the authorities have gone quiet despite its failure to deliver. Nigerian football deserves accountability and direction, not silence," Abdullahi said.
He noted that the NSC intervention in April 2025 had outlined clear conditions — a one-year tenure, mandatory elections and autonomy for existing clubs — but those guidelines were never enforced.
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Divisions became more visible during Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, 2025, where fans appeared in different branded outfits. A reconciliation meeting held on May 31, 2025, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos deepened tensions further, amid complaints over corporate branding introduced without broad consultation and the inclusion of groups outside the original MoU framework. Abdullahi noted the absence of key stakeholders — Rafiu Ladipo, Samuel Ikpea and Abayomi Ogunjimi — as evidence that the process lacked inclusiveness and credibility.
With the IMC's tenure ending on February 13, 2026, without elections or a transition plan, Abdullahi said questions over financial transparency have become more pronounced.
"There must be answers. Stakeholders deserve to know what happened during the IMC's tenure, especially regarding its finances and why elections were not conducted as agreed," he said.
He warned that Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup should not be used as grounds to abandon the unification process, adding that doing so would undermine long-term development.
With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations approaching, Abdullahi cautioned that the absence of a unified supporters' structure would hinder coordination and fan mobilisation.
"If nothing is done, we risk repeating the same mistakes at future tournaments. The NFF and NSC must act now to restore confidence and provide a clear roadmap," he said.
