Abuja: The Fact-Finding Committee set up to investigate Nigeria’s recent poor outings in international football has alleged interference in the selection of players and appointment of coaches by some officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Fanny Amun, Chairman of the committee, who resigned his position after submitting the report, made this known on Monday while presenting the committee’s findings in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Amun alleged that some officials of the NFF, especially the resigned executive committee, had interfered in the selection of players and appointment of coaches, contrary to the responsibilities of the technical department. ‘Some of the allegations were that board members were involved in team selection, recruitment of coaches and selling of players,’ he said. He emphasized that the committee would not mention the names of individuals allegedly involved, stressing that the report was intended to address systemic problems in Nigerian football rather than wit
ch-hunt individuals.
The committee, inaugurated on August 17 and given 14 days to complete its assignment, concluded its report within three days after prolonged meetings. Their mandate was to unravel the root causes of Nigeria’s poor performances in recent international competitions, with particular reference to the Super Falcons’ elimination from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. The committee examined governance, finance, technical development, grassroots football, and league administration, among other areas.
Amun noted that the committee also received allegations that agents and other intermediaries influenced player selection during national team camps, practices that, if established, could undermine the quality and integrity of national teams. He criticized an inequitable remuneration system for national team delegations, where some officials allegedly received daily allowances while players and coaches were not similarly compensated.
The committee also examined the Super F
alcons’ preparations for WAFCON and found shortcomings in the team’s preparation, internal coordination, and management. The coach cited inadequate friendly matches and late arrival at the tournament venue as some of the challenges encountered during preparations. However, the committee believed the team could have explored alternative arrangements, including playing against local or lower-tier opposition, to improve preparations.
Amun stated that the injury suffered by defender Ashleigh Plumptre had been medically confirmed and she was not fit to participate in the tournament. The committee found no evidence of players influencing team selection but observed that some officials allegedly gained unrestricted access to the team’s camp, potentially affecting discipline and team cohesion.
The report recommended clearer roles for coaches, technical officials, team secretaries, coordinators, and other members of national team delegations. It also suggested early and well-coordinated preparation for national team
s, improved player selection based on fitness and performance indices, and better cooperation between technical and medical teams.
On the administration of football, Amun called for reforms to the NFF statutes to accommodate more stakeholders and promote wider participation in the federation’s congress. He advocated a maximum of two terms in office for congress members and urged the federation to create opportunities for new and experienced stakeholders to participate in football administration.
Amun also called for better regulation of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO), and Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL). He said league structures should be strengthened to improve funding, player development, coaching education, and talent identification.
He emphasized the need for improved development of refereeing in Nigeria, including better training, remuneration, and exposure for referees to enhance the credibility of domestic compet
itions. The committee recommended that clubs participating in domestic leagues should establish youth development structures, particularly at under-15 and under-18 levels, with revenue generated from the leagues channelled towards grassroots and youth development.
On the Super Falcons’ WAFCON campaign, Amun rejected the description of the team’s performance as a complete failure, noting Nigeria’s record as defending champions before the 2026 tournament. He urged that the team’s failure to retain the title should be viewed within the broader context of preparation, administration, and technical management.
The committee, composed of Amun as chairman, Dr. Alex Mana, former Super Falcons Captain Desire Oparanozie, Coach Ladan Bosso, Ex-international Mutiu Adepoju, and Nasiru Jibril as secretary, aimed to identify weaknesses and recommend practical measures for repositioning Nigerian football. Amun urged relevant authorities to consider and implement the recommendations for the benefit of players, clubs, and th
e country.