By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
The Senate Committee on Sports on Wednesday expressed dismay over the poor performance of Nigeria’s national football teams, citing the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ non-qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The committee held an emergency meeting with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Shehu Dikko, and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau. The meeting was presided over by Senator Abdul Ningi, Bauchi Central, in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting in his office, Senator Ningi said the session was convened at the prompting of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. “I have the authority of the Senate President on this very important meeting who recently asked me that ‘Senator Ningi, what is happening in sports, what is happening in football?’” he said.
According to Ningi, the meeting was a preamble to a full explanation he will offer the Senate when it reconvenes next month on the state of sports and football in Nigeria, and steps being taken to reposition it for better results.
The committee emphasized the need for the NSC and NFF to close ranks for improved performances by Nigerian teams on the world stage. “I called them to close ranks, that is, the Nigerian Football Federation and the National Sports Commission because as it is today, they are wide apart,” Ningi stated.
He disclosed that the meeting was also summoned to unravel reasons behind the dismal performances despite huge motivational packages from President Bola Tinubu. Ningi noted that the president gave $100,000 each to players and officials and has “almost quadrupled the budget of the sports ministry.”
“We were all pained when we couldn’t be in the World Cup in the United States and further pained by the failure of Super Falcons to make it to Brazil next year,” he lamented.
Despite calls for the disbandment of the NFF, Ningi said the Senate and other stakeholders will ensure that any action taken falls within the limits of the law and FIFA statutes. “My concern is that whatever action we must do, we must do it within the limits of the law,” he said.
