The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has declared a nationwide boycott of all Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) events, including next week’s Annual General Assembly in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin and Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo accused the NFF of deliberately sidelining the media body from its expanded Congress.
The Association branded the move “retrogressive, unacceptable and harmful” to the growth of Nigerian football, insisting that the press remains an essential partner in the game’s development.
“While claiming to broaden its Congress, the NFF chose to push us aside. That decision is short-sighted and damaging to Nigerian football,” the statement read.
SWAN condemned what it called “divisive and destructive” leadership within the Federation, linking Nigeria’s steady football decline to poor governance despite massive state and corporate funding.
The group directed its members to stop covering or promoting NFF activities.
And announced plans to establish a task force to enforce the boycott.
It also vowed to investigate and expose alleged mismanagement in the Federation.
“SWAN will no longer tolerate the exclusion of sporting media from football’s decision-making table. We remain firm as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s football ecosystem,” the Association declared.
