The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called for a wholesome rebuilding of women’s football in Nigeria, beginning with renewed investment in grassroots development.
This was following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Hon. 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, where defending champions AMAC defeated Gwagwalada 7-0 in the opening fixture.
The FCC Chairman said Nigeria’s failure to secure a place at the next Women’s World Cup should serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders to reassess the country’s women’s football development structure 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,” Omidiran said.
According to her, the rebuilding requires more than short-term interventions. She stressed the need for a coordinated developmental strategy that identifies talents early and provides them with quality coaching, facilities, competitions and clear pathways to professional football.
The former NFF Executive Member (2002-2006), also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm as football authorities and relevant stakeholders deliberate on the necessary steps to address the challenges confronting 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 added.
“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,” Omidiran stated.
On the FCT Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament, Omidiran expressed delight at seeing young girls actively participating in grassroots competition, describing such platforms as critical to the future of the game.
“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.
The two-time chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee particularly commended Dr. Pat Ajuma Ayegba, an FCT FA Board Member and initiator of the Inter-Area Council competition, for her consistency, investment and commitment to grassroots women’s football development.
The FCC boss stressed that Ayegba’s initiative aligns with her own commitment to using sports to empower girls and young women, particularly through the Girls Play Sports Initiative, which she launched in 2024.
“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 added.
“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 August 21 to September 5, 2026 and features all six Area Councils of the FCT. AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada are in Group A, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali make up Group B.
