NFF forms committee to investigate national team failures

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has established a fact-finding committee to investigate the recent decline in performance across the country's national teams. The investigation focuses on recent failures in international competitions, specifically the Super Falcons' inability to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in history. While the Super Falcons have participated in every tournament since 1991, they will be absent from the 2027 finals in Brazil. This follows their quarter-final exit from the current Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and a 2-1 loss to South Africa in a playoff for the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.

The committee will also address the recent struggles of the Flying Eagles. The U-20 side failed to qualify for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after losing 4-1 to Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions in the WAFU B U-20 Championship final.

Ambassador Fanny Amun, the former NFF General Secretary, will lead the committee as chairman. The panel includes former U-20 coach Ladan Bosso, former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie, and former Super Eagles captain Mutiu Adepoju. Dr Alex Mana, a former FIFA referee, also joins the group.

Mallam Mohammed Nasiru Sa’idu, the chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, has been appointed as the secretary for the committee. The group is tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding these recent setbacks in Nigerian football.