The Department of State Services, (DSS) and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) are investigating intelligence reports that certain top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are working with some foreign interests to undermine national security.
A security source disclosed that the DSS and the NIA intercepted highly disturbing communication between the said NFF officials and some foreign nationals capable of causing security problems for Nigeria.
Asked if the investigation was linked the N17bn intervention fund released for salaries and bonuses of players at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the source responded that it was beyond that, stressing that issues of financial impropriety are handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Said the source, “It is true that President Bola Tinubu in 2024 approved N17 billion as a special intervention fund to help NFF clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams. However, that falls within the purview of the EFCC, not the DSS and NIA.”
“The mandate of the DSS is on dealing with domestic threats to national security. The NIA deals with external threats. So, when you hear that the DSS and NIA are jointly investigating a matter, it has got to be very serious, especially when the persons involved are saddled with the responsibility of managing an important body like the NFF,” he stated.
However, the NFF has recently come under the scrutiny of many football fans who regretted that football teams have suffered neglect over funding, resulting in Super Eagles missing consecutive FIFA World Cups, and the historic failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals, which ended their title defense and missed automatic World Cup qualification, subsequently facing a playoff path involving South Africa.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2–1 in the Women’s World Cup qualification playoff. Nigeria has played in every single FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991, making this the first time they failed to qualify.
The executive committee of the NFF headed by Ibrahim Gusau is under intense pressure to resign following the spate of alleged hi failures and also following the resignation of more than half of its members.
“That at least half of NFF executive have or are contemplating resignation, may not be unconnected with the fear of DSS and NIA probe, fuelling fears on the possibility of holding the NFF board election scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State,” declared the insider.
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