‘His Tenure Expired in 2022’ Tijani Babaginda Is Not Players’ Union President, NANPF Clarifies
The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) has clarified the leadership status of former President Tijani Babaginda, stating that his tenure as president of the Nigeria Players Union expired in 2022.
The clarification comes amid renewed questions over the leadership and representation of professional footballers in Nigeria, with NANPF insisting that Babaginda should no longer be regarded or presented as the incumbent president of the players’ union.
According to the association, Babaginda was elected president in 2018 after receiving the backing of 15 of the 20 club captains representing teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at an election held in Abuja.
During his tenure, the former Super Eagles forward was involved in initiatives aimed at advancing the welfare, rights and professional interests of Nigerian footballers.
NANPF, however, maintained that the mandate conferred on Babaginda formally ended in 2022 and that his previous position does not amount to a continuing leadership mandate.
NANPF Revisits Failed PFAN Merger
The association also provided further context on the 2021 attempt to bring NANPF and the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) together under a proposed Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) structure.
NANPF said the proposed merger was undermined by disagreements and what it described as irregularities surrounding the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached by the parties.
Among the contentious issues, according to NANPF, were the composition of the Board of Trustees, provisions governing tenure, alleged tenure elongation and the administration of COVID-19 relief funds reportedly deposited into the NANPF account by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The attempt formed part of broader efforts to end years of division within Nigeria’s players’ union movement.
In 2020, representatives of NANPF and NANF agreed to pursue reconciliation, with a normalisation committee established to address outstanding issues between the rival factions. However, disagreements surrounding representation, governance and the administration of the proposed unified structure persisted.
The issue of players’ welfare and representation has remained a major subject within Nigerian football.
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NANPF Insists on Electoral Mandate
NANPF further stressed that personal relationships or associations with sports administrators do not confer leadership authority within the players’ union.
The association specifically addressed reports concerning Babaginda’s relationship with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, maintaining that such an association does not constitute a mandate to lead the Nigeria Players Union.
According to NANPF, leadership of the players’ body must derive from its governing structures, constitutional provisions and recognised electoral processes.
“The NANPF continues to operate under an elected leadership structure aimed at advocating for the rights and interests of professional footballers in Nigeria,” the association said.
The body also reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity, urging stakeholders to distinguish between former office holders and individuals recognised under its current leadership structure.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of renewed scrutiny of players’ welfare and representation in Nigerian football. The debate has gained further relevance as stakeholders continue to push for stronger mechanisms to protect players’ contractual, financial and professional interests.
With questions surrounding the future structure of players’ representation still unresolved, NANPF’s latest statement underscores the continuing divisions within Nigeria’s football union movement and the importance of a clearly defined electoral and constitutional framework for determining legitimate leadership.
