ABUJA, Nigeria – The Senate Committee on Sports has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) over the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the expansion of Africa’s qualification slots for the tournament.
The committee also expressed concern over the failure of both agencies to honour invitations to appear before lawmakers and account for funds released for sports development and participation in major international competitions.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Abdul Ningi, said the National Assembly had a constitutional responsibility to oversee the activities of government agencies and ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
He noted that the NFF and the NSC had failed to appear before the committee after receiving two separate invitations requesting details of funds released and expended on Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Commonwealth Games and other international sporting engagements.
The committee is also seeking records of grants, interventions and development funds received from international bodies, including FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and other sports organisations.
Senator Ningi described Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as disappointing, noting that the country’s failure to secure qualification came despite FIFA’s expansion of the tournament and the increase in Africa’s representation.
He stressed that Nigerians deserved to know how funds allocated to sports development and national teams were utilised, especially given the country’s recent struggles in international competitions.
Following deliberations, members of the committee resolved that the NFF and the NSC should be given a final opportunity to appear before the Senate and provide the required documents before further constitutional measures are considered.
The committee consequently directed its Clerk to issue another invitation to the agencies, requesting comprehensive records of expenditures and programme implementation related to the competitions and interventions under review.
In a bid to independently verify financial transactions, Senator Ningi also directed that a request be forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for details of all releases made to the NFF and the NSC during the period under investigation.
The Senate’s move comes amid growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in the administration of sports in Nigeria.
In recent months, lawmakers and stakeholders have raised concerns over funding, infrastructure development, athletes’ welfare and the performance of national teams.
The probe is expected to examine whether funds allocated for sports development, tournament participation and international interventions were properly utilised, while also identifying challenges that may have contributed to Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the World Cup.
The committee is expected to continue its investigation after receiving submissions from the affected agencies and relevant government institutions.
Sunrise Times
