Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Sports has called the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and National Sports Commission (NSC) leadership to an emergency meeting after the Super Eagles missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Quick facts
- Meeting chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central
- NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau attended
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered the inquiry
- A wider Senate briefing is planned for next month
- Possible reforms must respect Nigerian law and FIFA statutes
Committee chairman Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, led the session. He said NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau were present.
Ningi said Senate President Godswill Akpabio had directed him to investigate the deterioration of Nigerian football and personally requested an explanation. The emergency talks will provide the foundation for a detailed report to the Senate when it returns next month.
He said he was acting with the Senate president’s mandate and described the meeting as an initial step before presenting lawmakers with an account of the current condition of sport, especially football, and proposals to improve the country’s results.
Ningi also said the discussions were intended to ease tensions between the NFF and the NSC, which he characterised as being far apart. A second meeting could take place at the presidential Villa, although no date was confirmed.
He argued that a lack of money could not by itself explain the national teams’ setbacks, pointing to what he called unprecedented backing from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ningi cited a reported $100,000 payment for players and officials, along with an increase of almost four times in the sports ministry’s budget.
The senator described Nigeria’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup and the Super Falcons’ absence from the 2027 women’s tournament as deeply painful. The results have fuelled demands from football stakeholders and supporters for sweeping changes, including calls for the NFF to be dissolved.
However, Ningi insisted that any response by the government or National Assembly must remain within Nigerian legislation and FIFA’s governing rules. He said the country’s laws and the statutes of world football’s governing body would both have to guide the process.
He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the Senate would investigate the circumstances behind the national teams’ performances and assess lawful steps to restore discipline and competitiveness.
