A fact finding committee set up to investigate Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has identified administrative, technical, regulatory and organisational weaknesses within the country’s football system as major concerns.
The committee, chaired by Amb. Fanny I. Amun, with former Super Falcons star Desire Oparanozie, Ladan Bosso and former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju among its members, submitted its report dated August 21, 2026.
No evidence of player influence over team selection
The committee said it found no allegation or evidence that individual players influenced selection or camp decisions.
Plumptre was genuinely injured
The committee investigated Ashleigh Plumptre’s case and found that she had undergone surgery and was not medically fit to play, Her condition was reportedly corroborated by medical personnel in Nigeria and her foreign club.
Camp management was questioned
The committee criticised the practice of officials allegedly gaining unrestricted access to the national team camp.
Player selection needs stronger criteria
It recommended that selections be based on current fitness levels and measurable performance indicators.
Early preparation is essential: The committee called for earlier and better-coordinated preparations for national teams, including improved scouting and talent identification.
Technical and administrative structures need reform: It called for stronger regulations, improved oversight and training/retraining of technical and administrative personnel.
Women’s football requires deliberate investment: The NWFL and women’s football generally need stronger structures and better funding.
League structures need improvement: The NPFL, NNL, NLO and NWFL should be better organised and aligned with sustainable funding and player development.
Coaching education must improve: The committee recommended stronger training, regulation and certification of coaches.
Technology should be introduced: Better data systems and verification mechanisms were recommended for player records, age verification and football administration.
Social media influence should be monitored: The report warned against negative external influences capable of affecting team cohesion.
Compensation must be properly structured: The committee called for equitable and transparent payment structures for players, coaches and officials.
Perhaps the most significant part of the report is its decision to raise broader allegations concerning the NFF’s administration and national-team operations.
The committee listed allegations that some board members may have influenced the invitation of players to national teams, while some coaches and officials were allegedly involved in inviting players for financial gain.
It also highlighted allegations that NFF board members and management staff receive payments during national-team assignments while players and their officials sometimes remain unpaid.
Another allegation concerned claims that some board members, NFF management staff and coaches allegedly receive incentives to influence decisions surrounding national-team invitations.
The committee also raised concerns about some federation employees allegedly remaining in lucrative positions for excessively long periods, creating rivalry and damaging the system.
The report also criticised what it described as the alleged refusal of the NFF Congress to make necessary and workable amendments to the federation’s statutes.
It recommended that Congress members should be credible, knowledgeable and experienced, with a maximum of two terms in office.
The report does not simply blame the Super Falcons or the players for Nigeria’s disappointing campaign.
Instead, its findings point to a much broader problem: Nigeria’s football administration, preparation, player management, league structures, funding, regulation and governance require serious reform.
The committee concluded that reforms must be practical, implementable and backed by political will, while urging the federation to learn from the Morocco experience and move forward.
