Nigeria’s football crisis sees Senate summon NFF and NSC chiefs

Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Sports has summoned the leaders of the Nigeria Football Federation and National Sports Commission over the country’s worsening football results. The Super Eagles missed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons failed to reach the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The emergency meeting was chaired by committee chairman Abdul Ningi, who said it followed a request from Senate President Godswill Akpabio. NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau and NSC chairman Shehu Dikko were called to explain the situation and outline measures to improve the national teams.

Ningi said the engagement would prepare the committee for a wider briefing to the Senate when lawmakers return next month. That presentation will examine the state of sports and football, as well as steps needed to restore discipline, coordination and stronger international performances.

The committee is also seeking to reduce tensions between the NFF and NSC. Ningi said the two bodies were currently far apart and needed to cooperate more closely if Nigeria is to recover its standing in world football.

The senator questioned why results had remained poor despite increased government support. He said President Bola Tinubu had provided incentives of $100,000 each for players and officials, while the sports ministry’s budget had increased to almost four times its previous level. In his view, inadequate financial motivation could not fully explain the national teams’ setbacks.

The failures have intensified calls from football stakeholders and supporters for major reforms, including demands for the NFF to be dissolved. Ningi said any response would have to respect Nigerian law and FIFA statutes. The Senate’s assessment will therefore focus on lawful measures affecting the management and funding of Nigeria’s national teams.