The National Sports Commission has explained the allocation of N6.44bn in the 2026 budget for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This comes even though the qualifying campaign will end in 2025 and Nigeria did not qualify for the recent tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as reported by Sunday PUNCH.
President Bola Tinubu presented a N58.18tn “Budget of Restoration” to the National Assembly last year. The sports sector received a significant boost. The National Sports Commission’s budget rose by over 300 per cent, increasing from N78bn in 2025 to N203.6bn in 2026. This funding aims to support infrastructure projects and Nigeria’s participation in major international events.
Among the allocations is N6.44bn set aside for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, even though the qualifying campaign wraps up in November 2025. This decision raised eyebrows and led to calls for clarification from the public.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was one of those calling for a probe into this budget. He questioned why this provision was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act when the qualifiers finish in November 2025.
After facing public scrutiny and an inquiry by our correspondent, the NSC issued a statement. They clarified that the budget line for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers was carried over from the 2025 budget into 2026.
The commission explained that the Special (Presidential) Support Group for the World Cup qualifiers in the 2025 budget was not enough. The funds were not released, which led to a need to increase the allocation to cover unpaid obligations, the African playoffs, and other preparations.
“In line with the Federal Government’s directive for the rollover of all 2025 capital budget provisions into the 2026 budget across all MDAs, the unfunded provision for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers subhead was upscaled and rolled over into the 2026 budget so as to settle outstanding obligations,” the NSC said in a statement shared with our correspondent on Saturday.
At the beginning of 2025, Nigeria had six matches left in the World Cup qualifying campaign. These matches were scheduled between March and October 2025, along with two other matches in the African playoffs.
The NSC stated that the ₦6.44bn Special (Presidential) Support Group fund aims to support and motivate the qualification campaign.
“The NSC further reiterates that, as of October 23, 2024, when President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, approved the restructuring of the sports sector, the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying campaign was almost lost. The team had only three points from a possible 12 points from the first four matches and was at the bottom of the qualifying table.
“Thus, one of the immediate steps taken by the NSC in 2024 regarding the World Cup qualifiers was the Special Support Group project. This was to work with all stakeholders and the NFF to plan the next qualifying matches. This ensured the Super Eagles received full support. The NSC even paid the salary of the Super Eagles Head Coach up to now. This helped the team recover from a hopeless position of having just three points from a possible 12 points to earning 14 points from the next 18 points in the last six matches. They qualified for the African World Cup Qualifiers Playoffs Finals in Morocco, but unfortunately lost in the penalty shootout in the final match.”
After Nigeria's elimination by DR Congo in the African playoffs final in November 2025, the team participated in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they finished third.
“This support to the team also helped the Super Eagles perform well at the last AFCON 2025/2026 in Morocco. The team won the bronze medal, showing clear progress that all stakeholders agree should be maintained for better results at the next AFCON (2027), the Olympic Games (2028), and the FIFA World Cup in 2030.”
Even though Nigeria missed the recent World Cup, which Spain won, the NSC pointed out that part of the ₦6.44bn allocation has been redirected to support Nigeria’s participation in other continental and global competitions.
“After the World Cup qualification campaign ended and it was confirmed that Nigeria would not qualify, the NSC worked with the National Assembly and the Budget Office. They started the legal process to amend the budget subhead for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the 2026 Appropriation Act. This will now include support for other national teams representing Nigeria in international competitions, especially at continental and global levels.”
The commission, which is now coordinating Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, emphasized its commitment to transparency, accountability, and following due process in managing public funds for sports development.
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