By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Former Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) defender and ex-captain Friday Christopher has warned that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will only flourish if stakeholders eliminate politics and tribalism from the administration of the game.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with JerseyNumber12 on Saturday, the former leader of the Oluyole Warriors said sentiment-driven decision-making continues to hinder the growth of Nigerian football at both club and league levels.
“These two things are affecting the growth of our football,” Christopher said. “We have to do something to stop it before it is too late. We need to do the right thing to get things back on track.”
Christopher stressed that club owners and league administrators must prioritize professionalism, fairness, and transparency in their dealings with players, coaches, and supporters.
According to him, the absence of merit-based structures and long-term planning has weakened the league’s competitiveness and credibility, discouraging investment and eroding fan confidence.
The former defender identified inadequate funding as a major factor behind the league’s struggles, particularly its inability to attract quality foreign players and retain top domestic talents.
He pointed to Nigerian clubs’ disappointing performances in continental competitions as evidence of deeper structural issues.
During the 2025/26 CAF campaign, Rivers United F.C. crashed out of the CAF Champions League group stage after losing five of six matches. Meanwhile, Kwara United F.C. and Abia Warriors F.C. were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup, leaving Nigeria without representation in the latter stages of African club competitions.
Christopher described the campaign as a wake-up call for administrators.
Beyond performance issues, Christopher advocated for structural reform, urging that government control of clubs be phased out in favour of private-sector management.
“Nigerian clubs should be taken away from government control,” he said. “Capable private organizations should be given the nod to run football clubs, and they should also be allowed representation on the NPFL board for proper governance.”
He argued that private ownership would promote accountability, efficiency, and sustainable business models, which are essential for long-term growth.
Christopher also highlighted poor infrastructure as another major obstacle. He called on authorities to build more FIFA-approved stadiums nationwide and suggested that clubs unable to finance their own facilities should pay subsidized fees to use existing venues.
Citing European best practices, he referenced how AC Milan and Inter Milan successfully shared the iconic San Siro, previously owned by the City of Milan before joint acquisition by both clubs.
According to him, adopting similar collaborative models could help Nigerian clubs manage operational costs while focusing on competitiveness.
Christopher’s remarks add to growing calls for reform within the NPFL, as stakeholders grapple with dwindling continental success and declining investor confidence.
For the former 3SC captain, the message is clear: unless politics, tribalism, and administrative inefficiencies are addressed decisively, the NPFL risks further decline at a time when African club football is becoming increasingly competitive.
His warning serves as both a critique and a roadmap, urging administrators to choose professionalism over sentiment in order to restore Nigerian football to its former stature.