Nigeria Players Abroad
NFF sets up inquiry after Nigeria’s World Cup qualification failure
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has established a fact-finding committee to examine the recent struggles of the country’s national teams, including the Super Falcons’ historic failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s women’s team were eliminated from the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the quarter-final stage.
Their hopes of securing a route to the World Cup ended soon afterwards when they lost 2-1 to South Africa in a play-off for a place in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs, which are scheduled to take place later this year.
The defeat means Nigeria will not appear at the 2027 finals in Brazil. It will be the first time the Super Falcons have missed the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.
Nigeria are the record ten-time African champions and the holders of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. They have traditionally been regarded as the leading force in African women’s football, making their absence from the next World Cup a significant setback.
The NFF committee will also investigate the failure of the Flying Eagles to qualify for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s under-20 team were beaten 4-1 by Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions in the final of the WAFU B U-20 Championship, a result that ended their hopes of reaching the continental tournament.
Former NFF General Secretary Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON, has been appointed to lead the panel.
He will be joined by Coach Ladan Bosso, the former Nigeria U-20 head coach and president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association; Desire Oparanozie, a former Super Falcons captain, multiple Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winner and FIFA Women’s World Cup player; and former Super Eagles captain Mutiu Adepoju, an Africa Cup of Nations winner and FIFA World Cup player.
Dr Alex Mana, a former FIFA referee, is also a member of the committee.
Mallam Mohammed Nasir Sa’idu, chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, will act as secretary.
The committee’s membership is:
– Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON – chairman
– Coach Ladan Bosso – member
– Desire Oparanozie – member
– Mutiu Adepoju – member
– Dr Alex Mana – member
– Mallam Nasir Sa’idu – secretary
The Super Falcons had previously featured in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, beginning with the inaugural tournament in 1991. Their failure to qualify for the 2027 competition in Brazil therefore marks a first in the history of the team.
Nigeria’s setback came during a difficult period for the country’s national teams, with the Flying Eagles also unable to progress to the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after their heavy defeat by Burkina Faso.
