What Nigeria must do to have teams at the Club World Cup – Ahmed Musa

Super Eagles legend Ahmed Musa has called for urgent reforms in Nigerian football, saying the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is falling behind compared to other African leagues.

Musa’s statement came just a few days after NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, proudly spoke about the progress made during the 2024/25 season.

Writing on his Facebook page on Saturday night, Musa said watching African clubs play at the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the United States made him reflect on how far Nigerian football still needs to go.

The African clubs at this year’s Club World Cup include Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad AC (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia). Musa praised their efforts but said it highlighted how much work Nigeria still has to do.

“It’s hard to watch,” Musa wrote. “These African clubs are not just exciting to watch—they’re also making money. But when you compare them to our NPFL, the gap is clear.”

He questioned whether Nigerian clubs could compete at this level and called for a full review of how the league is run. He said the structure of the clubs, the way the league is organised, and how it is funded all need to be improved.

Musa, who has played in top leagues in England, Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands, said talent alone is no longer enough.

“Our league has so much talent, from grassroots to top level. But in modern football, that’s not enough. We need to work together and decide to fix our football so our clubs can compete in Africa and beyond.”

He also pointed out Nigeria’s absence in international refereeing.

“Look at referees—other African nations have officials at CAF and FIFA events. Where are ours? We need to work harder to raise our standards.”

Musa ended his message by wishing all the African clubs at the Club World Cup the best of luck, but his words were clear: Nigerian football needs serious change.