Governing Bodies
How Maureen Mmadu’s name erroneously crept into FIFA Century list
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially declared that former international Maureen Mmadu did not make 101 international appearances for the team.
It has however taken over a decade for the declaration to be made.
The player in question had made a surprise appearance of the list of players who had made 100 international appearances.
Had that been established, she would have been the first Nigerian to achieve the enviable feat.
At the time, the most capped Nigerian footballer was the lat Muda Lawal who had 85 caps in a glorious career that spanned 10 years (22 January 1975 to 18 August 1985).
Muda’s record was only equaled by Joseph Yobo on 12 November 2011 when Nigeria played a goalless draw with Botswana in Benin City when Stephen Keshi made his debut as Super Eagles’ head coach.
Two days later, Yobo raised the bar with his 87th cap when Nigeria beat Zambia 2-0 in a friendly match in Kaduna.
It was a landmark for Yobo who made his international debut playing against Zambia on 24 March 2001. It was against the same team that he became Nigeria’s most capped player and went on to become the first centurion on 30 June 2014 in Brazil when Nigeria lost to France.
But not all believed that Yobo was the first Nigerian to clock a century of caps. The Maureen Mmadu claim lingererd.
This reporter disputed the woman footballer’s claim and launched an investigation into it as the player’s international appearances were just a fraction over 50 when it was claimed to be 101 after her last international appearance in 2007.
The figures did not add up. First, the number of matches the Falcons had played from 1995 when Mmadu debuted and 2007 when she last played, was far below 100. How could she have had 101?
A mail was sent to FIFA on 4 December 2010 and the reply obtained two days later pointed to a German journalist, Rainer Hennies who was the speciallist in compiling stats on women football for FIFA.
Then began a chain of e-mail exchanges between this reporter and Hennies.
The German pointed out that sometime in 2003, after the Super Falcons qualified for the football event of the 2004 Olympics in Athens, he contacted the then NFA to supply the number of international appearnces of the Falcons’ players.
According to him, he gathers information through the various football associations every four years for both the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup. The Nigerian “FA is just inventing statistics and still seems to be happy with it,” Rainer wrote in an e-mail response to enquiries.
According to him, that is why Nigerian players were hardly considered to be listed on the Century Club since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
No doubt, record keeping in Nigerian sports is a difficult task. It is also the same in most African countries.
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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