Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fact-finding committee set up by the Nigeria Football Federation has submitted a damning report that lifts the lid on a web of deep-seated administrative failures, allegations of cash-for-players, boardroom interference, and chaotic camp management that contributed to the Super Falcons' disastrous campaign at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The six-member panel, chaired by former NFF General Secretary Ambassador Fanny I. Amun, delivered its report on August 21, 2026, following the team's failure to retain the continental title and their subsequent failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
The committee, which included former Super Falcons star Desire Oparanozie, ex-Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju, Dr Alex Mana, and coach Ladan Bosso, examined governance, finance, technical development, grassroots football, league management, and national-team preparation. While it cleared the players of any wrongdoing, the report painted a disturbing picture of systemic rot within the federation.
Perhaps the most explosive findings center on allegations that some NFF board members, management staff, and coaches engaged in corrupt practices regarding player selection. The report documented allegations that some coaches and officials invited players to national camps for "financial gain". It further cited allegations that some board members and officials "receive incentives to compromise decisions in the build-up to national team camp invitation". The committee also raised concerns that some NFF board members were allegedly influencing player invitations to national teams.
The report highlighted a troubling disparity in payment structures, noting allegations that NFF board members and management staff were paid during national-team assignments while players and some officials were sometimes left unpaid. It also addressed an unresolved incident involving missing money during the Super Falcons' stay in Morocco.
Beyond the cash allegations, the committee strongly criticized the management of the Super Falcons' camp in Morocco, stating that it "didn't agree with the whole process of how some officials infiltrated the camp at will". The report recommended clearer rules on camp access and administration.
The committee also investigated the absence of defender Ashleigh Plumptre, whose non-participation had sparked questions. The panel found that Plumptre had undergone surgery and was medically unfit to play, a finding corroborated by medical personnel in Nigeria and at her foreign club.
While the players were cleared of influence allegations, the committee's report made it clear that the Super Falcons' failure was not a player issue but a symptom of a broader crisis. The report found no evidence that individual players dictated team selection or undermined camp cohesion.
The committee called for sweeping reforms across Nigerian football, including a comprehensive overhaul of the NPFL, NNL, NLO, and NWFL; improved coaching education and certification; deployment of modern data technology to address discrepancies in player records; and stronger oversight of social media influences. It also recommended that NFF Congress members be "credible, knowledgeable, and experienced," with a maximum of two terms in office, and raised concerns about officials remaining in lucrative positions for too long.
The report concluded that the reforms must be "practical, implementable, and backed by political will". The committee's findings have now placed the NFF under intense scrutiny, as the federation faces investigations by anti-graft agencies over a separate N12 billion intervention fund. For the Super Falcons and Nigerian football, the report serves as a stark warning that the rot runs deep, and without urgent action, the nation's footballing decline may be irreversible.
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