The Senate has expressed concern over Nigeria’s recent failures in international football, following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ inability to secure a place at the .2027 Women’s World Cup.

The Senate Committee on Sports on Wednesday 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, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, was held at his office in Abuja.

Ningi said the meeting was convened at the request of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who expressed concern about the state of Nigerian sports, particularly football.

“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 the meeting would help the committee prepare its report to the Senate when lawmakers resume next month.

“This meeting was 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 steps being taken to reposition it for better results.”

The senator said one of the major issues discussed was the strained relationship between the NSC and the NFF.

He urged both bodies to work together to restore confidence in Nigerian football.

“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 said the Senate was concerned that Nigeria’s football teams had continued to struggle despite increased government support.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu had provided financial incentives to players and officials and had also increased funding for the sports sector.

“The President, in his magnanimity, dished out a hundred thousand dollars each to players and officials. And what more will you need from a nation that Is battling with the lives of over 220 million Nigerians?”

He added that the sports budget had also been significantly increased.

“I’ve also seen that the President has almost quadrupled the budget of the sports ministry.”

Ningi said the failure of the Super Eagles to reach the 2026 World Cup was painful, adding that the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 tournament had further deepened concerns about the state of Nigerian football.

“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.”

Calls have been made by some football stakeholders for the NFF to be disbanded or restructured.

Ningi, however, said the Senate would not take any action outside the law.

“Whatever action we must do, 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.”

The Senate committee is expected to present its findings when the National Assembly resumes next month, with the aim of finding lasting solutions to the problems affecting Nigerian football. (The Guardian)

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