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By Silvernews
The National Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (NANPF) has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of deliberately blocking its General Secretary, Comrade Austin Popo, from meeting visiting FIFA and CAF delegations.
In a statement released by its communications directorate, the NANPF, which describes itself as the only recognized players’ union representing professional footballers active in Nigeria’s national leagues, condemned what it described as the last-minute withdrawal and replacement of Popo’s accreditation.
According to the union, the action prevented its elected representative from participating in discussions on player welfare, working conditions and football governance.
The NANPF alleged that the development was part of an attempt by the NFF leadership to bypass legitimate workers’ representation and undermine efforts towards transparent reforms in Nigerian football.
The union also criticized the NFF for accrediting some former players to represent players during meetings, insisting that retired players do not speak on behalf of the active players’ union.
“The former players selectively accredited by the NFF do not represent the union, nor do they speak on behalf of active national footballers,” NANPF said, arguing that the individuals were selected through political patronage and personal relationships rather than a legitimate union mandate.
Despite the accreditation controversy, the NANPF said it had successfully submitted a 90-page dossier directly to the FIFA delegation.
The document, according to the union, contained details of its statutory affiliation with the NFF, its operational history, testimonials from players, welfare interventions, proposed statutory changes and recommendations for reforming the NFF’s governance structure.
The NANPF argued that direct engagement between the players’ union and international football governing bodies is essential to protect the professional rights and interests of Nigerian footballers.
The union also argued that bringing together a group of retired players was no substitute for a properly constituted players union representing active professionals.
“A footballers’ union is not the private property of former players,” the statement adds, underlining that although retired players can contribute to the administration of football, the union’s primary responsibility is to defend the interests of active footballers.
The NANPF also challenged those who attended meetings in Abuja under the banner of player representation to identify policies or initiatives they had implemented in the last two years to improve the welfare and rights of active players.
The union called on the NFF leadership to reconsider what it described as its “hostile position” and embrace dialogue and transparent engagement with the players’ union.
The NANPF said it is committed to defending the rights, well-being and professional futures of Nigerian footballers, while supporting reforms aimed at promoting good governance and industrial peace in the country’s football sector.
