Tayo Ogunseye
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, has inaugurated a five-member Fact-Finding Committee charged with investigating the country’s recent setbacks in international football.
The committee was set up after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the NFF seeking to identify the factors responsible for the team’s disappointing campaign and the broader decline in the performances of Nigeria’s national teams.
Inaugurating the committee on Monday, Gusau urged its members to approach the assignment with honesty, commitment and diligence, while conducting a comprehensive investigation into the challenges confronting Nigerian football.
“You are to probe into the direct and remote causes of the poor outings of the National Teams in recent times, but with specific reference to the unexpected failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the World Cup,” Gusau said.
He gave the committee two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report, expressing confidence that its members, who have played significant roles in Nigerian football over the years, would provide practical recommendations to address the current challenges.
Chairman of the committee, Ambassador Fanny Ikhayere Amun, MON, assured the NFF that the panel would conduct its work thoroughly and independently. He said the committee would engage relevant stakeholders and receive memoranda from members of the public as part of its fact-finding process.
Amun described the assignment as an important national responsibility, stressing that the committee would be guided by truth and diligence in producing a report capable of helping to reposition Nigerian football.
The committee comprises former Super Falcons captain and four-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winner Desire Oparanozie; former Super Eagles captain and FIFA World Cup star Mutiu Adepoju; former Nigeria U-20 coach and President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Ladan Bosso; and former FIFA referee and ex-Head of Management Studies at the National Institute for Sports, Dr Alex Mana.
Former Nigeria international and Deputy Director in the NFF Technical Department, Nasiru Jibril, will serve as secretary of the committee.
Also present at the inauguration were National Institute for Sports Director General/CEO, Comrade Philip Shaibu, and senior NFF officials, including Director of Media and Communications Dr Ademola Olajire, Director of Legal Services Okey Obi, Director of Finance and Administration Rajan Zaka, Director of Competitions Ruth David, Director of Protocol Barnabas Joro, and Director of Member Associations and Special Duties Ali Abubakar Muhammad.
