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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Sports yesterday summoned the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the declining fortunes of Nigeria’s national football teams.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi, held an emergency meeting with NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, to seek explanations for Nigeria’s recent failures on the international stage.
The meeting focused particularly on 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 told journalists after the meeting that the session was convened at the instance of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who, he said, was concerned about the state of sports and football in the country.
“I have the authority of the Senate President on this very important meeting, who recently asked me that, ‘Senator Ningi, what is happening in sports, what is happening in football?’” he said.
He said the committee was seeking answers ahead of a broader briefing he would present to the Senate when it resumes next month.
Ningi also expressed concern over the strained relationship between the NSC and NFF, urging both bodies to resolve their differences and work together to revive Nigerian football.
“I called them to close ranks, that is, the Nigerian Football Federation and the National Sports Commission because as it is today, they are wide apart,” he said.
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According to him, the two institutions had commenced efforts to bridge their differences, with discussions still ongoing.
The senator said the committee was particularly concerned that Nigeria’s national teams had continued to struggle despite what he described as substantial financial support and motivation from the Federal Government.
He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had rewarded players and officials with $100,000 each, while the budget for the sports ministry had also been substantially increased.
“I thought the President has done all that he could in motivating them. And also, as the chairman of the Senate committee, I’ve also seen that the President has almost quadrupled the budget of the sports ministry,” he said.
Ningi said Nigerians were disappointed by the Super Eagles’ failure to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup, before the Super Falcons also missed out on the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
“We were all pained when we couldn’t be in the World Cup in the United States and further pained by the failure of Super Falcons to make it to Brazil next year,” he said.
On calls by some football enthusiasts for the dissolution of the NFF, Ningi said any action by the Senate would be guided by Nigerian law and the statutes of FIFA.
“My concern is that whatever action we must do, we must do it within the limits of the law. We must look at our laws, and we must also look at the FIFA statutes,” he said.
He said the committee would continue its engagement with the relevant stakeholders in search of solutions to the challenges confronting Nigerian football.
