Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has described the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup as a wake-up call for Nigerian football, saying the performance and exposure of African teams at the global tournament should challenge the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to raise its standards.
In a post on his official social media pages, Musa expressed admiration for the four African teams — Al Ahly, Esperance, Wydad AC, and Mamelodi Sundowns — participating in the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, while reflecting on the widening gap between Nigeria’s domestic league and the top clubs on the continent.
“I have been following the FIFA Club World Cup and my focus has been on the African clubs in the tournament. Apart from the excitement, the tournament is a money-spinner for the African clubs,” Musa wrote.
“It’s a sober reflection if we compare the African clubs at the Club World Cup to our domestic league, the Nigeria Premier Football League.
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“Can we compete at this level? What are we not getting right? We need to review the organization of the League, clubs’ structure, and funding. We need to set out new policies and drive the reforms.”
Musa, who returned to the NPFL in the 2024/2025 season to play for Kano Pillars, said Nigeria’s abundance of football talent must be matched with proper systems and reforms to compete globally.
“The NPFL is not lacking in potential. Our football has got abundance of talent and potential from the grassroots to the elite level, but these factors aren’t enough in a modern football system,” he said.
“We must collectively decide to make our football work which will ensure that our clubs compete at the continental and world level.”
The former Leicester City and CSKA Moscow forward also questioned the state of refereeing in Nigerian football, urging stakeholders to take action.
“What about the referees and officiating? Other African countries are producing referees for CAF and FIFA tournaments, but what do we have here?
“We must work hard to ensure our football meets the global standard and organization,” he added.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises significant financial rewards, with a $1 billion prize pool distributed across the 32 participating clubs. Each African team is guaranteed $9.55 million, while the tournament winner can earn up to $125 million through performance bonuses and progression.
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