According to a video posted on Channels TV on Wednesday November 4, 2026, the Director General of the Nigeria Sports Commission, Olopade, said Nigeria’s women won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations even though the men have not won, and he asked whether that means the women cannot be celebrated.

He made the comments when the host asked him about failures in sport. The host had pointed to World Cup failures.

Olopade said he and the host do not live in a utopian world. He said the women’s team won the continental title under President Tinubu. He asked why the host was fixated on football, and he asked to talk about sport as a whole.

In his words, Olopade said, “Okay, look. You and I do not live in a utopian world. You just spoke of AFCON under President Tinubu. WAFCON was won again by the women. Are you saying that because the men have not won, we cannot celebrate the women? Why are you fixated on football? Let us talk about sport,” he said.

Olopade said Nigeria sent 40 federations to multiple competitions abroad last year, and Nigerian athletes won 368 medals across 40 sports. He said the country also hosted more than 12 international competitions. He said the commission wants to be productive, and not only a consumer.

He said even the critics of the commission came out to say the so-called lesser sports are driving success. He named scrabble, chess, athletics and volleyball, and said the beach volleyball girls are already in the Olympics.

Olopade added that the commission recently paid the Super Falcons their reward. He said houses were given and money has been paid. He said Nigerians should show gratitude to President Tinubu for keeping the promise.

Watch headline quotes from (00:23:41–00:23:53).: