Former Super Falcons player Gift Okunwa-Igunbor has urged the Nigeria Football Federation’s fact-finding committee to go beyond making recommendations, insisting that improving the working conditions of the country’s national teams must be at the heart of its assignment.
Okunwa-Igunbor said the committee must ensure that concrete measures are put in place to prevent the recurring problems that have affected Nigeria’s preparations for major international competitions.
“The committee should look beyond just making recommendations to the football board,” Okunwa-Igunbor said.
“They must also insist that there is an improvement in the working conditions of our national teams.”
The former Super Falcons player stressed that early preparation should no longer be treated as an option if Nigeria wants its national teams to compete successfully at the highest level.
“Early preparations for tournaments should be a top priority for our national teams,” she said.
According to Okunwa-Igunbor, inadequate preparation has continued to put Nigeria in difficult situations, and the country must begin planning for major competitions well in advance rather than waiting until tournaments are around the corner.
She also called for greater competition for places in the national teams, arguing that selection should be based on current form and regular club football.
“It is also time for positions in the national team to be made more competitive,” she added.
Okunwa-Igunbor believes players should not automatically retain their places simply because of their reputation, particularly when they are not getting regular playing time at their clubs abroad.
The former Super Falcons star’s comments add to the growing calls for changes in the way Nigeria’s national teams are prepared and managed, with the NFF fact-finding committee now under pressure to produce recommendations that can translate into tangible improvements.
For Okunwa-Igunbor, the committee’s work should therefore not end when its report reaches the football authorities.
She wants the findings to lead to better working conditions, earlier preparations and a more competitive selection process — measures she believes are essential if Nigeria’s national teams are to regain their place among Africa’s football powers.
