Nigeria's Sports Commission defends N6.44bn FIFA World Cup qualifier budget amid controversy

The National Sports Commission defended its allocation of N6.44bn for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the 2026 budget, despite the qualifying campaign ending in 2025 and Nigeria failing to qualify.

The National Sports Commission has defended its allocation of N6.44bn in the 2026 budget for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, citing financial planning and contingency measures despite Nigeria's failure to qualify for the tournament. The commission claimed that the funds were needed for future competitions and events. The decision has been met with skepticism by some stakeholders, who argue that the money would have been better spent on preparing for the current qualifying campaign. However, the commission maintains that its plan is designed to ensure long-term sustainability for Nigerian football.