The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, has inaugurated the Federation’s newly constituted Fact-finding Committee on Nigeria Football Setbacks, charging members to carry out a thorough investigation with sincerity, diligence and a strong sense of responsibility.
The committee was inaugurated on Monday following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the NFF seeking to identify the root causes of Nigeria’s recent poor performances in international competitions.
Inaugurating the committee, Gusau said its mandate was to investigate both the immediate and underlying factors responsible for the national teams’ disappointing outings, with particular attention to the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a place at the World Cup.
“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. You will have two weeks to do the job and submit your report.
“We have composed this committee believing that you will come up with solutions to the present malaise, having played crucial roles in the Nigeria game in one way or the other for a very long time,” he said.
The NFF had announced the establishment of the committee on Friday following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, tasking it with conducting a comprehensive review of the factors contributing to the setback.
The committee is chaired by Ambassador Fanny Ikhayere Amun, MON, who pledged that members would approach the assignment with the seriousness and responsibility it requires.
Amun said the committee would engage individuals connected to the issues under investigation and receive memoranda from members of the public as part of efforts to produce a comprehensive report.
“We see this as a call to a very important national duty. It is not something that can be approached half-hearted; we have to immerse ourselves fully into the processes and come out with a report that all who have a stake in the Nigeria game will be proud of.
“We must endeavour to speak the truth at all times and be very diligent,” he said.
Other members of the committee are former Super Falcons captain, four-time Women AFCON winner and FIFA World Cup star Desire Oparanozie; former Super Eagles captain, AFCON gold, silver and bronze medallist and FIFA World Cup star Mutiu Adepoju; former Nigeria U20 team strategist and President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Ladan Bosso; and former FIFA referee and former Head of Department 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, serves as secretary of the committee.
The committee is expected to examine the broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s national teams and make recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence of recent setbacks.
Those present at the inauguration included the Director-General/CEO of the National Institute for Sports, H.E. Comrade Philip Shaibu; NFF Director of Media and Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; Director of Legal Services, Mr Okey Obi, Esq.; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Rajan Zaka; Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David; Director of Protocol, Mr Barnabas Joro; and Director of Member Associations and Special Duties, Mr Ali Abubakar Muhammad.
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