NFF Board Members allegedly paid while players struggle, Fact-finding committee reveals
A major allegation has emerged from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Fact-Finding Committee report, with former NFF Ethics Committee member Ambassador Fanny Amun (MON) alleging that some federation board members and management officials receive payments during national team assignments while players and other team officials sometimes struggle to secure adequate compensation.
Amun made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja while speaking with journalists after the committee formally submitted its report into the factors behind Nigeria’s recent struggles on the international stage.
The allegation has intensified scrutiny of the administration of Nigerian football, particularly after the Super Falcons’ disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign in Morocco, which saw Nigeria fail to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
According to Amun, the committee’s investigation went beyond the performances of the national teams, uncovering a range of administrative, financial, organisational, regulatory and structural issues that require urgent action.
One of the major concerns highlighted in the report was the alleged disparity in the financial treatment of members of national team delegations.
The committee noted allegations that some NFF board members and management officials receive payments and other financial benefits during national team assignments, while players and certain technical and support staff are at times inadequately compensated.
The report also examined allegations of financial incentives involving board members, management officials and coaches, alongside claims that some officials may have the ability to influence player invitations and selections.
There were further allegations that players could be invited to national team camps for financial considerations or that coaches and officials might accept incentives capable of influencing professional decisions.
However, the committee emphasised that the allegations remain subject to investigation and should not be treated as established facts without credible evidence. It called for any such claims to be properly examined through the appropriate federation mechanisms.
The issue of player influence within the Super Falcons was also investigated.
The committee reported that it found no evidence that individual players wielded undue influence over team selection or technical decisions. It also found the squad generally cooperative and said there was no evidence of factions disrupting preparations.
Nevertheless, the report identified concerns over the organisation of the technical crew and called for clearly defined responsibilities, particularly among analysts and other members of the support staff.
The committee also reviewed the circumstances surrounding defender Ashleigh Plumptre’s absence from the WAFCON.
It concluded that Plumptre had undergone surgery and was medically unfit to participate in the tournament. Her condition, according to the report, was supported by medical assessments from medical personnel in Nigeria and officials of her foreign club.
As a result, the committee recommended that national team selection should be based on objective criteria, including players’ fitness, medical reports and clearly established performance indicators.
Amun also condemned the unrestricted access of officials and other individuals to national team camps, describing the practice as unacceptable.
The committee recommended stricter access controls and stronger camp regulations to promote discipline, team unity and respect for the authority of coaches.
Beyond the immediate concerns, the report called for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s football development system, covering talent identification, scouting, player development and national team administration.
It recommended stronger data systems, age-verification technology, earlier preparation for national assignments and improved coaching education.
The committee also called for better regulation of domestic competitions, including the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).
It urged the NFF to make greater use of technology, develop additional revenue streams and reassess the framework for government and corporate investment in Nigerian football.
On governance, the committee proposed changes to the composition of the NFF Congress and recommended limiting members to a maximum of two terms in office.
The biggest challenge, however, may now be implementation.
The committee urged the NFF to demonstrate the political will required to act on its recommendations, stressing that Nigeria’s football problems cannot be resolved through temporary measures or isolated interventions.
For Amun, meaningful change must begin with placing players—the central figures in Nigeria’s football success—at the heart of decision-making.
The report has consequently put the NFF at a crossroads: undertake difficult but necessary reforms to restore confidence in the administration of Nigerian football, or risk allowing the recommendations to become another report that gathers dust as the country’s football fortunes continue to decline.
Join the Savid News channel on WhatsApp:
