Hassan Wada defends NFF record after Nigeria’s World Cup failures

Kogi State Football Association chairman Hassan Wada has defended the Nigeria Football Federation after the country failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. He said those setbacks should not be used as the sole measure of the federation’s record.

Wada pointed to Nigeria’s recent results in continental competition as part of a wider assessment. The Super Eagles finished second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and third at the 2025 edition, while the Super Falcons achieved success at the previous Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The men’s failure means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for a second successive edition. The women’s absence from the 2027 tournament is also a major setback, as it is the first time the Super Falcons have failed to reach the competition.

Wada said the latest disappointments should lead to greater support for efforts to restore stability and improve the national teams. His comments come as criticism of the NFF leadership intensifies, with former internationals and other stakeholders demanding changes to the federation’s leadership and governance.

The Kogi FA chairman has also supported the decision to keep Eric Chelle as Super Eagles head coach. He believes repeated changes can disrupt long-term development and that coaches and administrators require time to carry out their plans.

The debate over the NFF’s performance is also taking place alongside renewed scrutiny of its electoral process and the running of the national teams. Wada’s position is that the World Cup failures are serious, but should be considered alongside Nigeria’s continental performances before a final judgement is made on the current administration.