NFF & Football Reforms in Nigeria — Who is Qualified to Lead The NFF? Do Qualified Former Nigerian Footballers Have Equal Leadership Opportunities?

By 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐮

Who says a former Nigerian international footballer cannot become President of the Nigeria Football Federation or serve competently in another senior leadership position?

What makes football leadership supposedly beyond the professional reach of those who once represented Nigeria on the football field?

The NFF Presidency requires strategic leadership, governance knowledge, financial judgment and the ability to oversee an institution with substantial sporting and administrative responsibilities.

The General Secretary’s position requires executive management, organisational competence, financial literacy and the ability to implement authorised decisions.

These are different offices with different responsibilities. Both require professional qualifications that can be acquired, developed and demonstrated.

They are not exclusive to any particular career background.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐒𝐈 𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐊𝐏𝐄𝐌𝐄

On 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, the NFF announced the departure of its General Secretary, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐢, alongside other leadership changes.

𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐤𝐩𝐞𝐦𝐞, previously Deputy General Secretary, was designated to oversee the Secretariat on an interim basis.

The transition provides an opportunity to examine the professional demands of NFF leadership without turning the discussion into a judgment about either administrator.

The President and governing bodies exercise their respective statutory powers. The General Secretariat coordinates executive and administrative functions within its assigned authority.

These include implementing authorised decisions, managing departmental coordination, supporting national-team programmes, maintaining records and monitoring operational commitments.

At its 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 Annual General Assembly, the NFF placed the Secretariat’s activity report alongside separate financial and governance business.

The arrangement illustrates an essential feature of football administration: elected leadership provides governance and oversight, while executive management carries out assigned administrative responsibilities.

Both must operate within a credible system of institutional accountability.

𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑?

A former footballer may complete university education, acquire professional certifications, manage corporate departments, supervise employees, administer budgets or lead complex projects.

Those achievements deserve evaluation independently of the individual’s previous sporting career.

Consider a former international with a finance degree, professional management qualifications and substantial experience directing people, budgets and operational programmes.

Why should such an individual face a different standard from a similarly qualified journalist, lawyer, academic or career administrator?

No candidate should receive preferential treatment simply because of a famous playing career. Equally, no candidate should be excluded because that career came before professional education and management experience.

Whether the opportunity concerns an elected leadership position or an executive appointment, the applicable statutory requirements and professional standards must be respected.

Selection should consider documented competence, relevant qualifications, ethical conduct and demonstrable leadership.

𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝.

𝐍𝐅𝐅 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐒: 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘

For approximately three decades, Nigerian football has witnessed recurring controversies over unpaid allowances, outstanding coaching entitlements, tournament financing and the administration of public resources.

Different administrations. Different presidents. Different general secretaries.

Yet familiar complaints continue to return.

Before every major international tournament, the Nigeria Football Federation knows the participating teams, anticipated delegation sizes, competition calendar and the financial obligations associated with those assignments.

Budgets are prepared. Allowances are estimated. Transportation, accommodation, equipment and competition-related expenses are projected.

Contingency provisions should account for legitimate unforeseen costs.

So why have Nigerian players and coaches repeatedly reported unpaid entitlements during and after international assignments?

The explanation cannot remain an endless cycle of administrative assurances.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒. 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘?

The NFF’s 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 Annual General Assembly communiqué recorded Congress’s approval of a 𝐍𝟏𝟕.𝟔 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 budget proposal for 2025.

The federation has therefore demonstrated that it prepares annual financial plans through formal institutional processes.

But preparing a budget is only the beginning.

Every national-team assignment should have an identifiable financial chain: approved expenditure, funding source, release date, authorised disbursement and confirmed payment to the intended recipient.

Consider a squad travelling to an international tournament.

The federation should know how many players, coaches, medical personnel and approved accompanying officials are travelling.

It should know their contractual entitlements, applicable allowance rates, accommodation costs, travel arrangements and the dates on which payments become due.

Those figures should produce a realistic financial plan before departure.

When payments are subsequently delayed, the responsible officials should explain which stage failed.

Was the budget insufficient? Was funding released late? Was a payment instruction delayed? Were the recipients’ entitlements omitted? Did the obligation exceed its approved allocation?

These explanations should be established through records rather than speculation.

In 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, National Sports Commission Chairman 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐡𝐮 𝐃𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐨 stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the Super Eagles’ AFCON budget on 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, and that funding had been cleared from the Commission’s end.

That statement provides a concrete starting point for examining the relationship between government funding and the federation’s payment responsibilities.

Once funds move through the appropriate channels, there must be a reliable trail showing when they arrive, who authorises their utilisation and when the beneficiaries receive their entitlements.

𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐋.

𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄.

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓.

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐈𝐏𝐓.

Four stages. Four records.

Without that reconciliation, the public cannot properly determine where payment failures occur.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐓: 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒

Behind every unpaid salary, bonus or allowance is a human being. A coach with a family. A professional with financial commitments. Someone who accepted an assignment, served Nigeria and expected the agreed compensation.

Some waited months. Others waited years.

Some publicly appealed for payment while still coaching. Others left their positions with unresolved claims.

And some died before the financial questions surrounding their service had been finally settled in the public record.

These were not nameless employees. They were men and women whose work carried Nigeria’s flag onto the international stage.

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐈: 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒, 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 — 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

Consider the late 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐤𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐰𝐮 𝐊𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢.

He captained Nigeria to the 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨̂𝐭𝐞 𝐝’𝐈𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐞, where Nigeria finished as silver medalists.

Ten years later, he captained Nigeria to the 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟒 𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐚.

In 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑, he led the Super Eagles as head coach to another African championship in South Africa.

𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒.

𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟒.

𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑.

Yet in October 2013, only months after delivering Nigeria’s first AFCON title in 19 years, Keshi publicly complained that he had gone approximately seven months without receiving his salary.

The reported arrears were approximately 𝐍𝟑𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧.

The NFF was then led by President 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢.

In November 2013, NFF spokesperson 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐎𝐥𝐚𝐣𝐢𝐫𝐞 announced that two months of Keshi’s seven-month arrears had been paid, attributing the delays to the federation’s financial position.

Imagine winning the Africa Cup of Nations for your country, returning home as a national hero, and then having to publicly demand the salary attached to your employment.

But the story did not end in 2013.

On 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓, six months after his appointment had been terminated, Keshi told TheCable that the federation still owed him and members of his coaching staff.

By then, 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐮 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 was NFF President.

Keshi died on 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔.

Within days, Nigeria’s House of Representatives was calling for outstanding entitlements due to Keshi and another deceased coach, Shuaibu Amodu, to be settled for their families.

Lawmakers directed the House Committee on Sports to work with the NFF toward securing those payments.

In May 2017, reporting about the federation’s reconciliation of coaching arrears still raised uncertainty about the treatment of claims involving deceased coaches.

What an extraordinary contradiction.

Nigeria celebrated Keshi’s victories while he was alive, mourned him when he died, and then confronted parliamentary questions about financial obligations associated with his service.

𝐇𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐅𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬. 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬.

𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐀𝐈𝐁𝐔 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐔: 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒, 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

On 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔, just three days after Keshi’s death, Nigerian football suffered another devastating loss.

𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐢𝐛𝐮 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐮, former Super Eagles coach and NFF Technical Director, died in Benin City.

Following his death, the NFF publicly acknowledged owing him two months’ salary.

Then General Secretary 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐢 confirmed the arrears and stated that money due to Amodu would be paid to his family.

There was also a separate financial dispute connected with Amodu’s work for the Edo State Football Development Programme.

Published reports referred to an approximately 𝐍𝟐𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 claim involving Amodu and other programme personnel. The Edo State Government contested aspects of that claim.

These were separate employers and separate financial obligations.

But for Amodu’s grieving relatives, public discussions about unpaid remuneration continued after his death.

Nigeria had lost Keshi and Amodu within four days.

Two accomplished coaches.

Two grieving families.

Two sets of financial questions demanding attention from the institutions they served.

A family burying a loved one should not also have to navigate administrative uncertainty over established entitlements.

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐊𝐖𝐔: 𝐀 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

Consider 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐰𝐮, Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON-winning captain and former Super Eagles coach.

In 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, Chukwu publicly maintained that the federation still owed him money from his national-team coaching tenure, approximately 19 years after leaving the position.

Nineteen years.

A professional dispute stretching across administrations and a substantial portion of a person’s lifetime.

Chukwu died on 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

Two days later, the NFF disputed the indebtedness, stating that its records showed no outstanding liability to him.

The necessary response to such conflicting accounts is a complete reconciliation of the employment contract, payment obligations and financial records.

A football legend’s death should not make it more difficult to establish the history of his professional entitlements.

𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐎: 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊

In 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, former national-team coach 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐢 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐨 publicly complained about unpaid salaries associated with his service.

He also described his reluctance to pursue legal action because of concerns that doing so could jeopardise future coaching appointments.

Consider the position of a coach who believes that demanding payment may affect his chances of being employed again.

He has already worked.

He claims he has not received everything owed.

Yet he fears that pursuing the matter could close future professional doors.

When the pursuit of contractual entitlements becomes entangled with the fear of professional exclusion, football administration has a serious institutional problem.

𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀: 𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒

In 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐚 publicly demanded five months’ outstanding salary following Nigeria’s bronze-medal performance at the Rio Olympic Games.

He also sought payment for his assistants.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Siasia described the non-payment of his staff as heartless and inhuman, stressing the sacrifices they had made for their families and country.

An NFF official acknowledged the outstanding payment but attributed the delay to financial procedures.

Here was a coach who had brought home an Olympic medal, yet weeks later was threatening to sit inside the federation’s office until the salaries were addressed.

The country celebrated the medal.

The coaches continued pursuing their wages.

𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐇: 𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐘

In 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔, 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐡 resigned as Super Eagles coach, citing contractual violations and unpaid wages among his complaints.

Nearly a decade later, in 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, Oliseh publicly maintained that the NFF still owed him 𝐔𝐒$𝟐𝟔,𝟎𝟎𝟎 from that tenure.

A coaching appointment may end after months or years.

Its financial obligations should not be allowed to drift indefinitely from one administration to another.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒

BBC Sport’s September 2016 reporting identified other coaches who had experienced salary difficulties, including 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐞𝐧, 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐮𝐡 and 𝐄𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐔𝐜𝐡𝐞.

Subsequent reporting identified 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐛𝐞𝐦𝐢 among affected coaches.

The problem has not been confined to Nigerian-born coaches.

In 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐, a FIFA tribunal ordered the NFF to pay former Super Eagles coach 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐫 approximately 𝐔𝐒$𝟑𝟖𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 following a contractual dispute.

In 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐, BBC Sport reported that 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞́ 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐨 had not received a salary payment during his first six months as Super Eagles coach.

And on 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑, BBC Sport reported further NFF payment problems involving 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨, then Flying Eagles coach, and 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐦, then Super Falcons coach.

According to that report, Bosso had received only three months’ salary during a 15-month period, while Waldrum was owed more than 𝐔𝐒$𝟏𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎, including bonuses.

The federation acknowledged that the delays were unacceptable.

This was during the presidency of 𝐈𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐮, demonstrating that the payment concerns extended into another NFF administration.

And the human cost extended beyond coaches.

In 2022, members of the Super Falcons boycotted training before their WAFCON third-place playoff amid disputes over unpaid bonuses and allowances.

Players preparing to represent Nigeria should not have to interrupt their sporting assignments to draw attention to promised compensation.

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐈 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐔: 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘?

These documented cases span administrations led by 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢, 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐮 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 and 𝐈𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐮.

Their dates, claims and contractual circumstances differ, but the recurring governance challenge is unmistakable.

How does a federation continue encountering outstanding payment disputes when its national-team assignments require advance budgeting and financial approval?

Who is responsible for maintaining the register of outstanding obligations?

Who ensures that coaches’ contracts and allowance schedules are properly funded?

Who reconciles approved budgets with actual releases?

Who follows up when payments are delayed?

And who reports unresolved financial commitments to the governing bodies before another administration takes office?

These are not matters that should depend on the personal goodwill of a president, general secretary or finance officer.

They require a functioning management system.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐃, 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒?

The financial scrutiny becomes more urgent when government intervention funding is specifically intended to clear longstanding national-team obligations.

In 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a substantial intervention addressing outstanding football-related payments.

Reporting subsequently identified a 𝐍𝟏𝟐 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 fund.

In 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, the EFCC and ICPC commenced investigations into the utilisation of those funds.

An NFF letter dated 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, signed by 𝐎𝐧𝐨𝐣𝐚 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 on behalf of the General Secretary, stated that the relevant records were before the investigative authorities.

The NFF administration under President Ibrahim Gusau therefore faced formal scrutiny concerning the utilisation of substantial intervention funding.

But the underlying principle applies to every administration.

If money has been approved to clear unpaid obligations, the federation must maintain records of how much was released, when it was received, who authorised the payments and which beneficiaries were paid.

Supplementary funding should produce a corresponding settlement of documented liabilities.

The federation should be able to reconcile the original obligations, subsequent disbursements and remaining balances.

Anything less leaves the beneficiaries, their families and the Nigerian public without an adequate account of what happened to money intended for football.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐒, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑

Keshi is gone.

Amodu is gone.

Chukwu is gone.

Their contributions remain part of Nigerian football history. So do the questions raised publicly about their remuneration.

Others continue seeking settlement or explanations.

Nigeria cannot celebrate coaches for their victories, honour them with tributes, name facilities after them and then allow documented financial obligations to disappear into administrative uncertainty.

A contract should survive a change of president.

A payment record should survive the departure of a general secretary.

A legitimate entitlement should survive the death of the person who earned it.

And a family should not have to beg for what proper financial records establish as due.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐒𝐈𝐉𝐈 𝐋𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐍𝐉𝐔: 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐔𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐔𝐍𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐃?

The experience of 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐮, a former Nigeria international and experienced coach educator, brings the issue into sharper focus.

As documented in my 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 publication, Lagunju maintains that the NFF owes him 𝐔𝐒$𝟗,𝟑𝟓𝟎 in estacode allowances associated with national-team assignments in 2015 and 2016.

His claim comprises:

• 𝐔𝐒$𝟓,𝟗𝟓𝟎 arising from Golden Eaglets assignments connected with the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup preparations and tournament.

• 𝐔𝐒$𝟏,𝟕𝟎𝟎 from a Flying Eagles assignment to Burundi in May 2016.

• 𝐔𝐒$𝟏,𝟕𝟎𝟎 from a Super Eagles assignment to Sudan in 2016.

His regular monthly salaries were paid. The outstanding claim concerns estacode allowances.

Lagunju submitted a written demand to the NFF, with acknowledgment of receipt by the General Secretary’s office. He says the claim has not been formally resolved.

He suffered a partial stroke in 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 and has described the medical and personal difficulties that followed. He also acknowledged financial assistance provided by the federation during his illness.

The federation’s previous assistance and his outstanding estacode claim are separate matters.

A CAF-trained coaching educator who served Nigerian football should not be left indefinitely without a formal determination of a documented financial claim.

Was the estacode approved? Were the allowances included in the relevant assignment budgets? Were funds released? Was payment authorised? If the claim was rejected, where is the written explanation?

A functioning financial administration should be capable of answering those questions.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆?

In 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a substantial intervention intended to address longstanding national-team obligations, including coaching salaries, allowances and bonuses.

Reporting identified a 𝐍𝟏𝟐 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 intervention fund.

In 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, the EFCC and ICPC commenced investigations into the utilisation of that funding.

An NFF letter dated 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, responding to a Freedom of Information request, confirmed that the relevant financial records were before the investigative authorities.

Here, the scrutiny must extend beyond the announcement of government assistance.

What was the approved payment schedule?

Which national-team obligations were included?

What amounts were released to the federation?

Which coaches and players received payment?

Which claims were rejected, omitted or left outstanding?

What balances remained after disbursement?

And where a supplemental allocation was intended to clear old liabilities, what documentary evidence establishes that the designated beneficiaries received their payments?

A supplementary intervention should produce a measurable reduction in verified outstanding obligations.

If the federation cannot demonstrate that reduction through beneficiary-level reconciliation, the public is entitled to demand a complete accounting.

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘

The next generation of Nigerian football leadership must be assessed against the financial responsibilities of the offices they seek.

An NFF President must understand institutional oversight and the financial consequences of governing decisions.

A General Secretary must understand administrative expenditure, authorised budgets, contractual commitments, payment procedures and reporting obligations.

Finance officers must maintain accurate records and enforce appropriate controls.

Independent auditors and authorised oversight bodies must examine compliance and report findings.

These functions are different, but they must work together.

Qualified former international footballers deserve consideration for leadership positions under the same professional standards applied to qualified non-footballers.

But neither footballing fame nor political influence should excuse an applicant’s record of proven financial misconduct.

Candidates should be evaluated through documented professional experience, financial competence, ethical conduct and any established disciplinary or judicial findings relevant to the office.

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Budget the tournament.

Secure the funding.

Document the expenditure.

Pay the beneficiaries.

Reconcile every outstanding obligation.

Publish the appropriate financial reports.

And when questions arise, produce the records.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

That is where credible leadership must begin.

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐒

Professional qualifications provide a starting point. Institutional performance provides the continuing test.

The NFF needs a properly coordinated administrative structure that maintains operational schedules, defines departmental responsibilities and documents significant decisions.

Major assignments should identify responsible officers, approval authorities, deadlines and expected deliverables.

When difficulties arise, management should know what has been delayed, why it has been delayed and which authorised decision is required.

Such procedures reduce dependence on verbal assurances and personal relationships.

They also protect the institution when leadership changes.

These expectations should apply to the governing leadership, within its oversight responsibilities, and to Ikpeme, his predecessors and future executive administrators within their respective roles.

𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘. 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒.

Nigerian football should establish transparent, merit-based leadership standards consistent with its statutes.

Relevant academic education or equivalent professional experience, senior management capability, financial competence, governance knowledge and professional integrity should receive appropriate consideration.

A former player who satisfies the applicable requirements deserves fair consideration.

An individual from another profession should face the same standards appropriate to the position.

Football knowledge may strengthen an administrator’s understanding of players, competitions and sporting institutions. But professional judgment must also be demonstrated in areas extending beyond the pitch.

No profession should monopolise football leadership.

No professional background should enjoy exemption from scrutiny.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏

Nigerian football needs leaders who understand institutional responsibilities, manage resources carefully, enforce financial controls and deliver measurable results.

Football experience can complement executive preparation. Academic qualifications can establish knowledge. Professional experience can demonstrate the ability to lead people, manage budgets and oversee complex operations.

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨.

Many have moved beyond the football field into corporate management, business ownership, finance, education and organisational leadership. Their playing careers are part of their history, not the limits of their professional ability.

The NFF Presidency, General Secretariat and other leadership positions should never be considered beyond the reach of qualified former footballers—or entrusted to anyone without the competence and integrity the respective offices require.

Former internationals deserve the same opportunities as equally qualified non-footballers.

𝐍𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐬.

𝐍𝐨 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

𝐍𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬.

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝. 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐲 — 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝.

𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐮

FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Children’s Fund (GTCF)

𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊, 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

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𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧, 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.