The Chairman of Langtang North Amateur Football Association (LAFA), Amb. Miri Timnan Nyantau, popularly known as M.T.N., has fired back at the growing wave of criticism directed at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under Alh Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
Speaking against the backdrop of public anger over Nigeria’s latest football disappointment following the country’s failure to qualify for the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, M.T.N. said the fury being directed at the federation ignores the very different realities under which football is run in Nigeria.
He argued that comparing Nigeria’s football administration with countries like South Korea and Saudi Arabia is misleading, stressing that those nations operate with stronger structures, better funding, and more stable working conditions.
According to the football administrator, the NFF is often left scrambling for last-minute government support, a situation he described as a major handicap to effective preparation.
He insisted that success in football is built on proper planning, adequate funding, and technical continuity, not panic-driven arrangements.
M.T.N. further dismissed the claim that the Gusau-led NFF is a total failure, saying such a blanket verdict is unfair and overly emotional.
He maintained that Nigeria’s football problems are deep-rooted and systemic, and should not be reduced to a single administration or a few trending social media opinions.
In his view, the real issue is the country’s weak football system, not merely the individuals currently at the helm.
