By Silvernews
The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of deliberately blocking its General Secretary, Comrade Austin Popo, from meeting with visiting FIFA and CAF delegations.
In a statement issued by its Communications Directorate, NANPF, which described itself as the sole recognised players’ union representing active professional footballers in Nigeria’s domestic leagues, condemned what it called 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.
NANPF alleged that the development was part of an attempt by the NFF leadership to bypass legitimate labour representation and undermine efforts towards transparent reforms in Nigerian football.
The union also criticised the NFF for accrediting some former footballers to represent players during the meetings, insisting that retired players do not speak on behalf of the active players’ union.
“The ex-players selectively accredited by the NFF do not represent the union, nor do they speak for active domestic footballers,” NANPF said, alleging that the individuals were selected through political patronage and personal relationships rather than a legitimate union mandate.
Despite the accreditation dispute, NANPF said it 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, testimonies from players, welfare interventions, proposed statutory amendments and recommendations for reform of the NFF’s governance structure.
NANPF maintained that direct engagement between the players’ union and international football governing bodies was essential to protecting the rights and professional interests of Nigerian footballers.
The union further argued that bringing together a group of retired players could not substitute for a properly constituted players’ union representing active professionals.
“A players’ union is not the private property of ex-players,” the statement added, stressing that although retired players could contribute to football administration, the primary responsibility of the union was to defend the interests of active footballers.
NANPF also challenged those who participated in the Abuja meetings 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 stance” and embrace dialogue and transparent engagement with the players’ union.
NANPF said it remained committed to defending the rights, welfare and professional future of Nigerian footballers while advocating reforms aimed at promoting good governance and industrial peace in the country’s football sector.
