NFF presidential candidate Segun Solanke warns of dwindling big‑money transfers for Nigerian footballers

Segun Solanke, chief executive of Provazios Sports Management and a contender for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) presidency in the September 2026 election, said the flow of high‑value moves for Nigerian players to top European clubs has sharply declined. He cited past transfers such as Christian Obodo to Udinese, Obinna Nsofor to Inter Milan, Ahmed Musa to CSKA Moscow, and Obafemi Martins to Inter Milan as examples of a once‑vibrant pipeline that has largely vanished.

Solanke argued that the lack of multimillion‑euro deals threatens Nigeria’s ambition to qualify for the 2030 World Cup and to build a competitive national team. He linked the issue to chronic under‑funding of football and called for renewed passion and strategic reforms to revive the sport’s development pathway.

In a separate interview, Solanke emphasized his broader vision for Nigerian sport, noting his involvement in multiple disciplines through Provazios Sports Academy and pledging to address funding challenges while leveraging his enthusiasm for youth development.