The Senate has expressed dismay over the poor performance of Nigeria’s football teams and held an emergency meeting with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
The meeting, convened by the Senate Committee on Sports and presided over by its Chairman, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), was to review the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ inability to secure a place in the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting in his office, Ningi said the engagement was at the instance of the Senate President, *Godswill Akpabio.
“I have the authority of the Senate President on this very important meeting. He recently asked me: ‘Senator Ningi, what is happening in sports, what is happening in football?” he said.
“This meeting is a preamble to the explanation I will offer the Senate when it reconvenes next month on the state of sports and, in particular, football in Nigeria today, and the steps being taken to reposition it for better results.”
Ningi said the committee stressed the need for the NSC and NFF to “close ranks” to improve Nigeria’s performance on the world stage.
“I called them to close ranks because, as it is today, the NFF and the NSC are wide apart. They are heading for a meeting, probably in the Villa. For now, it is work in progress,” he stated.
The senator said the meeting also sought to understand why Nigerian teams have continued to underperform despite the huge financial motivation provided by the Federal Government.
“Recall that for a very long time, government never compensated sportsmen and women. But the President, in his magnanimity, gave $100,000 each to players and officials. What more will you need from a nation battling with the welfare of over 220 million Nigerians?” he asked.
“I thought the President has done all he could in motivating them. As Chairman of the Senate Committee, I have also seen that the President has almost quadrupled the budget of the sports ministry.
“Then what other motivation does a player or official need? We were all pained that we could not make the World Cup in the United States, and further pained by the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for Brazil next year.”
Ningi, however, said that while some stakeholders have called for the disbandment of the NFF, the Senate would ensure that any action taken is in line with Nigerian law and FIFA statutes.
“My concern is that whatever action we must take, we must do it within the limits of the law. We must look at our laws, and we must also look at the FIFA statutes,” he said.
The Senate is expected to receive a full briefing from the committee when it resumes plenary next month.