The Department of State Services has commenced investigations into the utilisation of the N17 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government to the Nigeria Football Federation for the payment of outstanding wages, bonuses and other financial obligations owed to the country’s national football teams.
The probe, according to a source familiar with the development, is focused on establishing how the funds were disbursed and spent by officials of the NFF.
The intervention was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 as part of efforts to clear accumulated financial obligations to players and other stakeholders involved with Nigeria’s national teams.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to publicly discuss the investigation, said the DSS had begun examining relevant financial records and documentation connected to the release and utilisation of the funds.
“It is a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released to them,” the source said, dismissing suggestions that the investigation was intended as a witch-hunt or an attempt to intimidate NFF officials.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the administration and performance of Nigerian football, with the country’s national teams facing a series of setbacks in recent years.
The latest crisis has intensified following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, bringing an end to the Super Falcons’ remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the women’s tournament since its inception in 1991.
The Super Falcons had already suffered disappointment at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where their title defence was ended by a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon.
The result denied Nigeria an automatic route to the 2027 World Cup and forced the team into the qualification playoff route.
Nigeria subsequently faced South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the decisive playoff, but the South Africans secured a 2-1 victory to book their place at the global tournament.
The failure marked a historic setback for the Super Falcons, who had previously qualified for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began.
The latest development has also added to pressure on the NFF leadership headed by Ibrahim Gusau, with calls mounting for the federation’s executive committee to resign over what critics describe as a prolonged decline in the administration and performance of Nigerian football.
The pressure has been compounded by reported resignations within the NFF executive committee.
Eight of the 13 members of the federation’s board are alleged to have resigned, a development that could have significant implications for the federation’s planned electoral process.
The NFF had scheduled its next board elections for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Comments
Start the conversation about this story.