NFF forms fact-finding panel after Eagles, Falcons miss World Cup
NFF announced a fact-finding committee on Friday to investigate why Nigeria’s national teams failed to qualify for upcoming World Cups. The Super Falcons were knocked out of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter‑finals and lost 2‑1 to South Africa in the African play‑offs, ending their streak of qualifying for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1991. The Super Eagles have not appeared at the men’s World Cup since 2018 and missed the 2026 tournament altogether.
Sports administrator Ayodeji Adegbenro told DAILY POST that the federation has grown complacent, saying “We got so used to these girls winning; we stopped preparing them adequately for tournaments.” He added that calls are growing for NFF president Ibrahim Gusau to step aside, arguing that the problem is systemic and requires a hard reset of the NFF statutes.
The committee’s findings could trigger leadership changes, reforms in team preparation, and a review of funding and grassroots programmes. With the 2027 Women’s World Cup and future men’s qualifiers approaching, stakeholders are watching whether the inquiry will lead to real action or just symbolic deflection.
Will this fact‑finding effort produce meaningful reforms in Nigerian football, or will it be another committee that reports without changing the structures that have let the Super Eagles and Falcons down?