News Investigators/ 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).
Chairman of the committee, Fanny Amun, who resigned his position after submitting the report made this known on Monday while presenting the committee’s findings in Abuja.
Mr. 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, however, said 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 witch-hunt individuals
“The committee was inaugurated on Aug. 17 and was given 14 days to complete its assignment, but we concluded our report within three days after holding prolonged meetings.
“Our 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.
“We examined governance, finance, technical development, grassroots football and league administration, among other areas,” Amun said.
According to him, the committee also received allegations that agents and other intermediaries influenced player selection during national team camps.
He said such practices, if established, could undermine the quality and integrity of national teams.
The former committee chairman also criticised what he described as an inequitable remuneration system for national team delegations, where some officials allegedly received daily allowances while players and coaches were not similarly compensated.
He said the committee was of the view that players and coaches deserved appropriate allowances and rewards for their services to the country.
“If you are paying all, you pay all. If you are not paying all, you don’t pay all.
“The question remains, where is the equity there?” he asked.
Amun said the committee also examined the Super Falcons’ preparations for WAFCON and found shortcomings in the team’s preparation, internal coordination and management.
He said the committee invited the coach, medical personnel and other officials to explain the circumstances surrounding the team’s performance.
According to him, the coach cited inadequate friendly matches and late arrival at the tournament venue as some of the challenges encountered during preparations.
Amun, however, said the committee believed the team could have explored alternative arrangements, including playing against local or lower-tier opposition, to improve preparations.
He said the committee also established that the injury suffered by defender Ashleigh Plumptre had been medically confirmed and that she was not fit to participate in the tournament.
“The committee enquired about the case of Ashleigh Plumptre and found that she had undergone surgery and was not fit to play.
“This was corroborated by team doctors in Nigeria and her foreign club.
“The committee found no evidence of players influencing team selection.
“We also observed that some officials allegedly gained unrestricted access to the team’s camp, a situation which could affect discipline and team cohesion,” Amun added.
The report recommended clearer roles for coaches, technical officials, team secretaries, coordinators and other members of national team delegations.
It also recommended early and well-coordinated preparation for national teams, 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.
He said the committee was concerned that some individuals had remained in strategic positions for prolonged periods, creating unnecessary rivalry and limiting opportunities for others.
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.
According to him, the Super Six competition should also be used more effectively for scouting and national team development.
As such, the committee recommended improved use of technology for player registration, data management and age verification to prevent discrepancies in the football system.
It also called for stronger regulatory and oversight mechanisms, as well as training and retraining of administrative and technical personnel.
Amun said the committee also examined the role of government and corporate organisations in football development, stressing the need for a more structured approach to funding.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to reforms and investment in sports.
“I am not a politician and I do not belong to any political party, but because of the President’s goodwill and investment in sports, I will support him,” Amun said.
He urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to concentrate on policy formulation, regulation and oversight, rather than becoming directly involved in activities that should be handled by sports federations.
“The National Sports Commission is to formulate policies, guide implementation, ensure there are no violations and exercise oversight,” he said.
Amun also called for improved development of refereeing in Nigeria, including better training, remuneration and exposure for referees.
He said poor officiating had continued to affect the credibility of domestic competitions and called for measures to improve the standard of refereeing.
The committee further recommended that clubs participating in the domestic leagues should be supported to establish youth development structures, particularly at under-15 and under-18 levels.
Amun said revenue generated from the leagues should also be 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.
He said Nigeria had won the continental title 10 times and had also been recognised for its achievement as defending champions before the 2026 tournament.
He recalled that President Tinubu had rewarded the players with 100,000 dollars each, alongside Certificates of Occupancy and other incentives, after their previous WAFCON triumph.
Amun said the team’s failure to retain the title should therefore be viewed within the broader context of preparation, administration and technical management.
He said the committee’s report was not designed to punish individuals but to identify weaknesses and recommend practical measures to reposition Nigerian football.
He urged the relevant authorities to consider and implement the recommendations in the interest of players, clubs and the country.
The committee comprised Amun as chairman, Dr Alex Mana, former Super Falcons Captain, Desire Oparanozie, Coach Ladan Bosso, Ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju and Nasiru Jibril as secretary.
