On social media, Nigerians reacted with fury and disbelief, accusing the NFF of killing the soul of Nigerian football.
The hashtag #NFFScandal and #FIFAFundsProbe trended on X (formerly Twitter) hours after the news broke.
User @OluSportsNG wrote: FIFA gives Nigeria $25m in ten years, yet we can’t boast of one world-class stadium or youth academy. Corruption has stolen our football dreams.
Another user, @AdaezeTheAnalyst, tweeted: When you see how disorganized our football is, it’s clear the problem is not talent it’s leadership. Every kobo from FIFA should be traced.
@KenechukwuWrites added: This NFF probe must not end like others. Nigerians deserve to know how much FIFA sent and who pocketed what. Enough of the lies.
Some fans also called on FIFA to intervene directly and impose sanctions on officials found guilty of mismanaging funds. Others demanded that former presidents of the NFF be compelled to publicly declare how grants were used.
Across sports talk shows and commentaries, analysts stressed that the probe could become a turning point if conducted transparently and backed by enforcement.
Sports journalist Mitchell Obi said: This is not just about missing funds it’s about accountability and the credibility of Nigerian football before the world. FIFA has queried Nigeria before, and this time, the evidence appears too serious to ignore.
