THE Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) are investigating intelligence reports alleging that certain top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are working with some foreign interests to undermine national security.
News Point Nigeria reports that a security source disclosed that the DSS and the NIA intercepted highly disturbing communications between the said NFF officials and some foreign nationals, which the agencies believe are capable of causing security problems for Nigeria.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the investigation was not limited to financial issues surrounding the NFF or the N17 billion intervention fund released for salaries and bonuses of players at the federation, stressing that matters relating to financial impropriety fall within the purview of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Asked if the investigation was linked to the N17 billion intervention fund released for salaries and bonuses of players at the NFF, the source responded that it was beyond that, stressing that issues of financial impropriety are handled by the EFCC.
“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 source said.
“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 have expressed regret that the country’s football teams have suffered neglect over funding, resulting in the 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, a result that ended their title defence and denied them automatic qualification for the World Cup, subsequently forcing them onto 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, ending Nigeria’s remarkable record of having featured in every single FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991.
The failure to qualify marked the first time Nigeria’s Super Falcons would miss the global women’s football showpiece, further intensifying criticism of the administration and management of football in the country.
The executive committee of the NFF, headed by Ibrahim Gusau, is now under intense pressure to resign following the spate of alleged failures and the resignation of more than half of its members.
The development has also raised questions about the stability of the federation’s leadership and the possibility of the planned election proceeding as scheduled amid the reported internal crisis.
“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,” the insider declared.
The alleged investigation by the two intelligence agencies therefore adds another layer to the growing crisis surrounding the NFF, coming at a time when the federation is already facing mounting criticism over the performance and funding of Nigeria’s national teams, internal resignations and uncertainty over its forthcoming leadership election.