Gusau Inaugurates NFF Fact-Finding Committee To Probe Nigeria’s Football Setbacks

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, has inaugurated a fact-finding committee tasked with investigating the recent setbacks suffered by the country’s national teams.

The committee was constituted following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the NFF seeking to identify the underlying causes of Nigeria’s disappointing performances in recent international competitions.

Inaugurating the committee on Monday, Gusau charged its members to approach the assignment with sincerity, diligence and a strong sense of responsibility.

“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 investigation and submit its report.

Gusau said the NFF expects the committee to provide practical solutions to the challenges confronting Nigerian football, noting that its members were selected because of their extensive experience and contributions to the game.

“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 committee is chaired by Ambassador Fanny Ikhayere Amun, MON, who pledged that its members would conduct the assignment thoroughly and independently.

Amun said the committee would engage people connected to the issues under investigation and consider memoranda from interested members of the public.

“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,” she said.

“We must endeavour to speak the truth at all times and be very diligent.”

Other members of the committee are former Super Falcons captain and four-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winner Desire Oparanozie; former Super Eagles captain and AFCON medalist Mutiu Adepoju; former Nigeria U20 coach and President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Ladan Bosso; and former FIFA referee and former Head of the 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, will serve as secretary.

The committee’s work is expected to go beyond the Super Falcons’ World Cup qualification failure to examine broader factors responsible for the recent struggles of Nigeria’s national teams and recommend measures for improvement.

Among those present at the inauguration were National Institute for Sports Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Philip Shaibu; NFF 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.