Former member of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee, Austel Elumelu, has welcomed the NFF’s decision to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate the recurring failures of Nigeria’s national teams.
Elumelu believes the decision is significant because it represents an acknowledgment that the problems affecting the national teams require a fresh and independent assessment.
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The NFF recently constituted a six-member fact-finding committee, chaired by former Nigeria international Ambassador Fanny Amun, to examine the recent setbacks involving the country’s national teams and make recommendations on how to address them.
Elumelu described the move as an opportunity for the federation to look beyond the immediate results and identify the underlying issues responsible for the repeated disappointments.
“It is a welcome development. It shows that the NFF is willing to look outside itself for better ways to identify and solve the problems.”
The former technical committee member believes the committee can provide useful recommendations if its members are given the necessary independence, resources and institutional support to carry out their assignment.
Amun brings considerable experience to the committee, having served in various capacities within Nigerian football, including as a former assistant coach of the Super Eagles and member of previous national sports committees. Historical records also show Amun and Elumelu have previously worked together on sports-related initiatives.
The committee comes at a particularly difficult period for Nigerian football.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons missed out on the 2027 Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history. Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team also suffered a heavy defeat to Burkina Faso in the WAFU-B final.
Elumelu believes the series of setbacks makes a comprehensive assessment necessary, rather than treating each failure as an isolated incident.
He expressed optimism that the committee can produce meaningful recommendations if the NFF and other relevant stakeholders provide the necessary support and are prepared to act on its findings.
The former NFF technical committee member’s position comes as debate intensifies over the structures, preparation and administration of Nigeria’s national teams.
The effectiveness of the committee will ultimately depend on the quality of its findings and, more importantly, the willingness of football authorities to implement the recommendations that emerge from the exercise.
