Nigeria’s Women’s Football Needs Grassroots Revolution — Omidiran

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called for a comprehensive rebuilding of women’s football in Nigeria, beginning with renewed investment in grassroots development following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Omidiran made the call on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Football Tournament at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Abuja, where defending champions Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) opened their campaign with a resounding 7-0 victory over Gwagwalada Area Council.

The former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee member said Nigeria’s failure to secure a place at the next Women’s World Cup should serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders to urgently reassess the country’s women’s football development structure.

“This is the time for us to rebuild women’s football in Nigeria. We need to go back to the grassroots and invest properly in the development of our girls,” Omidiran said.

She stressed that rebuilding the women’s game required more than short-term interventions, calling instead for a coordinated development strategy that identifies talents at an early age and provides them with quality coaching, facilities, regular competitions and clear pathways into professional football.

“We need proper investment and a clear developmental strategy. We have to start from the grassroots, discover these girls early, nurture them and give them the right environment to grow,” she said.

Omidiran, who served as an NFF Executive Committee member from 2002 to 2006, also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm while football authorities and other stakeholders consider measures to address the challenges confronting the women’s game.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm. The authorities are discussing and looking at the necessary steps that need to be taken to rebuild our women’s football ecosystem,” she added.

According to her, Nigeria must stop relying solely on past successes and develop a sustainable system capable of continuously producing players for the national teams and professional clubs.

“We must use this moment to rebuild. We cannot continue to rely only on the successes of the past. We need to build a system that will continuously produce talents for our national teams and professional clubs,” Omidiran said.

The two-time chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee expressed delight at the participation of young girls in the FCT tournament, describing grassroots competitions as essential to the future of women’s football.

“I am deeply happy seeing these girls here today. This is exactly where the rebuilding has to start. When you see young girls playing football, developing their confidence and showcasing their talents, you know that the future can be better,” she said.

Omidiran also commended Dr Pat Ajuma Ayegba, an FCT FA board member and initiator of the Inter-Area Council competition, for her consistency, personal investment and commitment to developing women’s football at the grassroots.

“I want to commend Dr Pat Ayegba for her consistency, her investment and the positive impact she continues to make in the lives of these girls at the grassroots,” Omidiran said.

She stressed that sustainable development of women’s football must begin with investment in the girl child, urging more individuals and organisations to commit resources to creating opportunities for young female players.

“This is very much in line with what we started with the Girls Play Sports Initiative in 2024. We had 64 teams competing across the different regions and zones of the country, and we brought the final here to Abuja,” she said.

The 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament runs from August 21 to September 5 and features all six Area Councils of the FCT.

AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada are drawn in Group A, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali make up Group B.

The tournament is expected to provide a competitive platform for emerging talents while strengthening the grassroots pathway for women’s football in the FCT.