Senate Raises Alarm Over Nigeria’s Poor Football Results
The Nigerian Senate has expressed disappointment over the poor performances of the country’s national football teams, following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), held an emergency meeting with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ningi said the meeting was held at the request of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“I have the authority of the Senate President on this very important meeting. He recently asked me, ‘Senator Ningi, what is happening in sports, what is happening in football?’” Ningi said.
He explained that the meeting was a first step towards a detailed report he would present to the Senate when it resumes next month.
“So this meeting was a preamble to the explanation I will offer the Senate when it reconvenes next month on the state of sports and, in particular, football in Nigeria today and the steps being taken to reposition it for better results,” he said.
Ningi also called on the NSC and NFF to work together, saying the two bodies must close ranks if Nigeria is to improve its performance on the international stage.
“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.
The senator said the meeting was also aimed at finding out why Nigeria’s football teams have continued to struggle despite the financial support and incentives provided by the Federal Government.
He praised President Bola Tinubu for his support for sports and said the government had provided strong motivation for players and officials.
“I thought the president had done all that he could in motivating them. As the chairman of the Senate committee, I’ve seen that the president has almost quadrupled the sports ministry’s budget.
“Then what other motivation does a player or official need? We were all pained when we couldn’t be in the World Cup in the United States and further pained by the failure of the Super Falcons to make it to Brazil next year,” he said.
Ningi also addressed calls from some football stakeholders for the NFF to be disbanded.
He said the Senate would ensure that any action taken would follow Nigerian laws and FIFA regulations.
“My concern is that whatever action we must take, 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.
The Senate is expected to further discuss the state of Nigerian football when it resumes next month, with possible steps towards improving the administration and performance of the country’s national teams.
