The Senate Committee on Sports has summoned the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for an emergency meeting over Nigeria’s recent setbacks in football.
The committee’s Chairman, Senator Abdul Ningi, said the meeting was prompted by the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ inability to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, presided over the meeting attended by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
The senator said the meeting was held at the directive of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who asked him to investigate the reasons behind the decline in Nigerian football. He added that the outcome would form part of a detailed briefing to the Senate when it resumes next month.
Ningi said another objective was to address the strained relationship between the NFF and NSC, describing the two organisations as being “wide apart.” He disclosed that another meeting could be held, possibly at the Presidential Villa.
He also noted that the national teams’ poor performances came despite what he described as significant financial backing from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to him, players and officials reportedly received $100,000, while the sports ministry’s budget had increased to nearly four times its previous level.
Ningi described Nigeria’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup and the Super Falcons’ absence from the 2027 Women’s World Cup as painful setbacks that have renewed calls for major reforms in Nigerian football.
Some football stakeholders have called for the dissolution of the NFF, but Ningi stressed that any action by the government or National Assembly must comply with Nigerian laws and FIFA statutes.
He assured Nigerians that the Senate would investigate the circumstances surrounding the national teams’ performances and consider lawful measures to restore discipline and competitiveness to Nigerian football.
