Football stakeholders have called for intensified actions in tackling the perceived dwindling fortunes of the country’s football national teams at international tournaments.

The recent setback was recorded at the just-concluded Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where the Super Falcons lost to the Lionesses of Cameroon at the quarterfinals.

The 10-time WAFCON winners also missed the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, via playoff, against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

It was the first time the team would suffer such defeat since their first qualification in 1991.

Reacting to the development, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), through its official X handle, announced the sack of Coach Justin Madugu-led technical crew.

Reacting to the sack of Mr Madugu, some football stakeholders called for deliberate action in repositioning the female national team.

Speaking during an interview, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SGH Sports Academy, Temitayo Bakare, called for a re-structuring of the country’s football.

“Nigeria’s football restructuring must begin with massive, deliberate and long-term investment in sports infrastructure.

“Before we start talking about consistently winning trophies across every category of our national teams, we must first build the foundation that makes sustained success possible.

“Nigeria needs new modern stadiums and football facilities across the country, while our existing stadiums should be comprehensively refurbished and upgraded to meet CAF and FIFA standards. I strongly believe that a 10- to 20-year national sports infrastructure investment plan will not be a bad idea,” he said.

Mr Bakare added that such a programme should include the construction and rehabilitation of stadiums and training pitches.

He said it must also consider football academies, sports science centres, medical and rehabilitation facilities, as well as other essential sporting infrastructure.

“This cannot be left primarily to the Nigeria Sport Commission (NSC) or the NFF. It requires strong government intervention, legislation and a clear national sports infrastructure policy.

“We must also have appropriate funding, accountability and continuity across administrations. The NSC and NFF should then play their respective roles in regulation, football administration, technical development, competitions, talent identification and implementation of the national football development strategy.

“We cannot continue to expect extraordinary results from an inadequate foundation,” he said.

Mr Bakare said if Nigeria desired to compete consistently for continental and global honours at cadet competitions, women’s and other senior national teams, the country must first invest heavily in the ecosystem that produced champions.

“We need to build the infrastructure, strengthen the system, develop the talents and then demand the trophies.

“Anything short of this risks becoming another cycle of temporary interventions without sustainable results,” he said.

On his part, a sport analyst, Francis Ogheneruru, said inadequate preparations of the Super Falcons were responsible for their exit in the WAFCON.

“The NFF cannot take decisions like this; we need to ask if it is the right decision to take. This decision may not be the way out, just for not qualifying for the World Cup.

“Did the NFF do their own work? When were the players called to camp, and how many grade A friendlies were arranged for the team?. So many questions begging for answers,” he said.

Also speaking, a sports journalist, Tope Adejumo, urged the NFF to look into the composition of its technical committee.

“The NFF needs to look into its technical committee and solve the downward spiral of the national team’s fortune.

“If the NFF sacks the technical crew, who will sack the NFF itself. We need an holistic assessment of the team, from the appointment of coach Madugu by the technical committee, to the woeful performance of the Falcons.

“The appointment of Madugu to many of us is not right because he lacked requisite knowledge of women’s football, judging from his past coaching duties,” he said.

(NAN)