By Dorcas Francis Koji
The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has welcomed the recent engagement involving FIFA and Nigerian football stakeholders, saying the visit by football’s world governing body could usher in a new era of unity among Nigerian footballers.
The players’ union made the declaration as stakeholders await the outcome of discussions involving Nigerian football officials and representatives of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA on the future direction of the country’s football administration.
In a statement made available through its Secretary General, Edema Fuludu, PFAN expressed appreciation to FIFA, CAF, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other stakeholders for facilitating what it described as an important engagement.
PFAN said the union had achieved greater unity under the leadership of its president, Tijani Babangida, stressing that divisions that previously affected the players’ union were no longer central to its operations.
“Under one umbrella of the leadership of our president, Tijani Babangida, there is unprecedented unity and harmony within the Nigeria Players Union,” Fuludu said.
“The period of fragmentation is behind us. Today, PFAN represents all past and present professional footballers in Nigeria with one mandate: to protect, promote, and advance the welfare and interests of our members.”
The union said it was committed to working with the government, NFF, clubs and international football bodies through dialogue and partnership to improve the game and strengthen the welfare of players.
“The era of divide and rule that once inhibited the progress and collective bargaining power of the players union is now firmly behind us. The house of Nigerian players is united,” PFAN stated.
“As we participate in discussions at this FIFA Meeting, the PFAN reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity, player welfare, education, post-career support, and the development of football at all levels in Nigeria,” Fuludu added.
PFAN also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for their support for reforms in Nigerian football, while praising the National Sports Commission for what it described as its focus on stakeholder engagement, sports policy and athletes’ welfare.
Meanwhile, PFAN frontline member Harrison Jalla has explained why the players’ union supports the proposed normalisation committee process as part of efforts to reform Nigerian football, rather than an interim arrangement reportedly being considered by some State Football Association chairmen.
Jalla, who represented PFAN alongside Babangida and Chikwelue Iloenyosi at the meeting with FIFA and CAF, said the circumstances surrounding the current crisis differed from those that existed in 2006.
He recalled that an interim arrangement in 2006 was able to function because key administrative officials remained available to keep the football structure operational during the transition.
According to Jalla, the current situation is different because the NFF does not have a substantive secretary general in place following the resignation of Mohammed Sanusi alongside the Ibrahim Gusau-led board.
He said Emmanuel Ikpeme, who is currently acting as NFF secretary, could not provide the same basis for an interim transition, claiming that FIFA would not recognise such an arrangement.
“The only way out is for every genuine stakeholder to align with the normalisation committee for our football to take shape as quickly as possible,” Jalla said.
Jalla further disclosed that the players’ union, coaches and referees’ associations had reached common ground on the proposed pathway for reform.
He said the stakeholders had agreed that representation in the NFF Congress, board, standing committees and voting structure should be equitable under any new governance arrangement.
“Representations on the congress, NFF Board, its standing committees and voting rights must be equal in the new governing structure,” Jalla said.
“We also agreed on a normalisation committee process driven by stakeholders.”
The latest development comes amid ongoing efforts by football stakeholders to determine a governance framework for Nigerian football, with PFAN insisting that unity, broad stakeholder participation and the welfare of players should remain central to any reform process.
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