Fact-finding committee identifies systemic problems

...Calls for NFF reforms

By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye 

 

 

A fact-finding committee set up to investigate Nigeria’s recent struggles in international football has identified a number of administrative, technical and structural challenges behind the Super Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The six-member committee, chaired by former Nigeria international Ambassador Fanny I. Amun (MON), submitted its report in Abuja on August 21, 2026, after examining issues ranging from team management and player welfare to league administration, funding and governance within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Other members of the committee were Dr. Alex Mana, Desire Oparanozie, Ladan Bosso and Mutiu Adepoju, with Nasiru Jibril serving as secretary.

The committee was mandated to unravel the root causes of Nigeria’s recent poor performances in international competitions, with particular focus on the Super Falcons’ campaign at WAFCON 2026 and the country’s failure to retain the continental title and qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Contrary to some allegations surrounding the Falcons’ camp, the committee found no evidence that individual players wielded undue influence over team selection or that players were responsible for the team’s problems.

It also investigated the case of defender Ashleigh Plumptre and confirmed that she had undergone surgery and was medically unfit to participate in the tournament. The committee said this was corroborated by medical personnel in Nigeria and her foreign club.

However, it raised concerns about the management of the team, particularly the manner in which some officials were allowed to gain unrestricted access to the camp.

The committee called for clearer structures within the technical department and recommended that player selection, development and team management be handled through defined procedures.

It also stressed the need for national teams to have early and well-coordinated preparations, with player selection based on current fitness levels and objective performance indices.

Beyond the Super Falcons, the report painted a broader picture of challenges affecting Nigerian football, highlighting weaknesses in governance, league administration, coaching education, grassroots development, funding and the use of technology.

The committee recommended stronger regulation and oversight of the NPFL, NNL, NLO and NWFL, while calling for improved funding and structures across the leagues.

It also identified the Super Six competition as an important platform for player development, scouting and national team selection.

On coaching, the committee called for improved training, regulation and certification, alongside better remuneration and reward systems for coaches and other football personnel.

The report further raised concerns over allegations that some NFF board members could influence invitations to national teams, as well as claims that coaches and officials could invite players to camps for financial gains.

It also cited allegations of incentives being offered to compromise decisions surrounding national team invitations, while stressing the need for such claims to be properly investigated through appropriate internal mechanisms.

Another major concern was the alleged disparity in payments during national team assignments, with claims that NFF board members and management staff receive payments while players and their officials are sometimes left unpaid.

The committee called for compensation and allocation systems to be made structured, equitable and transparent.

It also recommended reforms to the NFF Congress, including ensuring that members are knowledgeable, credible and experienced, with a maximum of two terms in office.

The committee further urged the federation to embrace technology and new initiatives capable of attracting greater funding while improving player data, age verification and administrative processes.

It warned against the negative impact of social media and external influences on team cohesion and called for better monitoring of their effects on national teams.

In its concluding remarks, the committee said the NFF must strengthen its internal mechanisms for verifying facts and addressing identified problems, while ensuring that recommendations are practical, implementable and backed by political will.

The committee also commended the Super Falcons for their efforts in Morocco, urging stakeholders to move forward while using the lessons from the tournament to rebuild Nigeria’s football system.

“Advice should and must be practical, implementable, and should be the ones that show political will,” the committee stated.

The report was signed by Amun, the chairman, and Jibril, the secretary, and dated August 21, 2026, in Abuja.