Nigeria must return to grassroots to rebuild women’s football — Omidiran

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called for a major rebuilding of women’s football in Nigeria, beginning with renewed investment in grassroots development.

Ms Omidiran made the call on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Football Tournament at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Abuja.

Her call followed the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, ending Nigeria’s record of appearing at every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1991.

She said the setback should prompt stakeholders to reassess the country’s women’s football development system and return to the fundamentals of grassroots development.

“This is the time for us to rebuild women’s football in Nigeria. We need to go back to the grassroots and invest properly in the development of our girls,” Ms Omidiran said.

She said rebuilding the game would require more than short-term interventions, calling for a coordinated development plan that identifies talented girls early and provides them with quality coaching, facilities, regular competitions and clear pathways to professional football.

The former Nigeria Football Federation executive member also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm while football authorities and other stakeholders consider measures to address the challenges facing the women’s game.

“We need proper investment and a clear developmental strategy. We have to start from the grassroots, discover these girls early, nurture them and give them the right environment to grow,” she said.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm. The authorities are discussing and looking at the necessary steps that need to be taken to rebuild our women’s football ecosystem,” she continued.

“We must use this moment to rebuild. We cannot continue to rely only on the successes of the past. We need to build a system that will continuously produce talents for our national teams and professional clubs,” Ms Omidiran added.

‘This is where rebuilding has to start’

At the FCT tournament, the FCC chairman expressed delight at seeing young girls compete, describing grassroots competitions as important to the future of women’s football.

“I am deeply happy seeing these girls here today. This is exactly where the rebuilding has to start. When you see young girls playing football, developing their confidence and showcasing their talents, you know that the future can be better,” she said.

Defending champions Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) opened their campaign with a 7-0 victory over Gwagwalada.

Ms Omidiran, who has twice chaired the NFF Women’s Football Committee, commended Pat Ajuma Ayegba, an FCT FA board member and initiator of the competition, for her commitment to grassroots women’s football.

“I want to commend Dr Pat Ayegba for her consistency, her investment and the positive impact she continues to make in the lives of these girls at the grassroots,” Omidiran said.

“You cannot develop women’s football without investing in the girl child. We need more people who are willing to put their resources, time and energy into creating opportunities for these young girls,” she said.

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She linked the initiative to her Girls Play Sports Initiative, launched in 2024.

“This is very much in line with what we started with the Girls Play Sports Initiative in 2024. We had 64 teams competing across the different regions and zones of the country, and we brought the final here to Abuja,” she concluded.

The 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament runs from 21 August to 5 September and features the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada are in Group A, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali make up Group B.