The Osun State Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association has called for urgent government intervention to save the two state-owned teams from being relegated.
Osun United, the male state team campaigning in the Nationwide League, is already swimming in relegation waters.
The team is seventh in Group B, which has 10 teams, placing it among the three teams that will be relegated unless it improves in its upcoming games.
Osun Babes, the female team playing in the Women’s Premier League, is also struggling and may be heading for the lower division following a string of poor results.
Sources within Osun United, who preferred to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to comment on the development, said the team must win its next three games to remain in the Nationwide League.
Commenting on the situation, the Chairman of the Osun FA, Sola Fanawopo, emphasised the need for immediate and direct involvement of the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, who also doubles as the State Commissioner for Sports.
Fanawopo, in a statement signed by Seyi Akaani, the media officer of the association, obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, called on Adewusi to urgently intervene to prevent the teams from going down.
He said, “Both state-owned teams are currently battling relegation in their respective leagues due to poor welfare, inadequate support, and declining operational standards.
“It is important for the Honourable Deputy Governor to take a hands-on approach, visit the players’ hostels, inspect team buses, and attend matches to fully understand how critical the situation has become.”
He added that the “current state of player welfare has negatively affected morale and performance, putting both teams at serious risk.”
He subsequently called for swift and decisive action to stabilise the teams, improve welfare conditions, and preserve Osun State’s football status.
