Forget the unfortunate ending to the World Cup playoffs and focus on AFCON finals, NFF tells Super Eagles

The Executve Committee of Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) has charged the Super Eagles’ to put behind their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and concentrate on the forthcoming AFCON finals to be hosted by Morocco.

In a communique it issued after it’s meeting held Wednesday, 10th, December, 2025 at it’s Secretariat in Abuja, the football house charged the players to completely forget the unfortunate ending to the FIFA World Cup playoffs and use the same North African country as the arena to write a new story about themselves and their abilities just as it mandated the secretariat to ensure a hitch-free run-in to the championship for the three-time African champions.

In the same vein, the Executive Committee equally mandated the NFF Secretariat to commit efforts, energy and critical thinking to securing quality friendly matches for the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, in the February 2026 FIFA window, as the 10-time African champions gun for an 11th title and a 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket, at the 14th Women Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco from 17th March – 3rd April 2026.  

The communique also noted that following an exhaustive evaluation of the poor run of the country’s youth teams in international competitions in recent years, the Executive Committee mandated the Technical and Legal departments to come up with fresh guidelines for the establishment of Football Academies in the country, and advise on new frameworks that will enable true development of Nigeria Football from the grassroots, while enforcing rules, regulations and provisions that are consistent with those of world football-governing body, FIFA

 The Executive Committee also thumbed up the process that has been put in place for the appointment of an Independent Auditor for the Federation, with the public notice for reputable, competent and highly qualified Chartered Accountants to apply for the position already out.

This followed the successful completion of the two-tenure of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and with the gazetted provision that no firm can serve for more than two terms in such capacity.

 The communique further stated that the Executive Committee expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the ongoing construction of NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches, which constitute Nigeria’s FIFA Forward 3.0 project, and which are located opposite the NFF Secretariat in the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The body observed that there is high optimism that the contractor is in good pace to meet up with the 24-month deadline for handing over of the project.

Also following an assessment of the performance of referees handling matches in all the Leagues (Nigeria Premier Football League; Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One), the Executive Committee expressed deep-seated disappointment with the scorecard of a great number of the officials, and warned that even sterner measures are on the way to curb the incidence of poor officiating, incompetence, collusion with club officials and bare-faced manipulation of matches to favour certain teams and interests.
In attendance at the meeting were the President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and Secretary Mohammed Sanusi.
Other members who attended the meeting are; Yusuf Ahmed, Sharif Rabiu Inuwa,
Babagana Kalli, Sunday Dele-Ajayi, Aisha Falode and Ganiyu Majekodunmi
Also in attendance are;
Margaret Icheen, Timothy Heman Magaji and George Aluo
The 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, Anyansi – Agwu and Gbenga Elegbeleye as well as Nse Udofot Essien and His Excellency, Silas Agara sent in apologies.