Outrage as FG Budgets ₦6.44bn for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers After Super Eagles Failed to Qualify
By Reporter
The Federal Government has come under scrutiny after it emerged that the 2026 Appropriation Act contains a ₦6.44 billion allocation for Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, despite the Super Eagles having already failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
An analysis of the approved budget shows that the National Sports Commission (NSC) earmarked ₦6.44 billion for a project described as “Special (Presidential) Support Group for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.”
The allocation remained in the budget even though Nigeria’s qualification campaign ended in November 2025 after the Super Eagles were eliminated from the race for a place at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The budget provision has sparked widespread criticism from sports stakeholders and transparency advocates, who questioned why public funds were budgeted for a campaign that had already ended before the 2026 budget was signed into law.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung described the allocation as one requiring urgent public explanation, arguing that World Cup qualification campaigns have defined timelines and should not continue to attract funding after they have concluded. He called on the government to provide full details of the proposed expenditure in the interest of accountability.
However, the National Sports Commission defended the allocation, explaining that the budget line was intended to cover outstanding commitments and expenditures related to the qualification campaign, including obligations incurred during the play-offs. The Commission maintained that the provision did not necessarily represent funding for fresh qualifying matches after Nigeria’s elimination.
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup marked the country’s second consecutive absence from football’s biggest tournament. Beyond the sporting disappointment, analysts estimate that the Nigeria Football Federation also lost access to millions of dollars in FIFA participation and preparation grants that could have supported football development across the country.
The controversy has renewed calls for greater scrutiny of budget proposals, with critics insisting that every appropriation should reflect current realities and be backed by transparent implementation plans before public funds are committed.
