By Ghazali Ibrahim
Lagos State University’s women’s football team, the LASU Queens, has been thrown out of the ongoing 2025 Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) University World Cup Football in Dalian, China, after failing to meet the organisers’ basic squad requirements.
The setback has not only ended the team’s dream of representing Africa on the global stage but also sparked fresh questions about Nigeria’s sports administration and preparedness for international competitions.
LASU Queens, who earned the continental ticket after clinching the 2024 All Africa University Games title in Lagos, were denied accreditation when they arrived in China with just 13 players, three short of the 16 minimum required by FISU.
Regulations also mandated five team officials, which the Nigerian delegation reportedly failed to provide.
The development meant the African champions were disqualified before kicking a ball, leaving Group A opponents which are Shanghai University of Sport (China), University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina (Brazil), and University of Valencia (Spain) with one team less.
For many of the players, the disqualification was a devastating blow after months of preparation and anticipation. Parents and students who had celebrated the team’s historic qualification last year are now demanding accountability from both the university authorities and the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA).
The disqualification also reignites the debate over Nigeria’s track record of missed opportunities in international tournaments due to administrative lapses a recurring issue in football, athletics, and even Olympic participation.
While the tournament continues in Dalian with semi-final spots up for grabs and the final slated for September 28 LASU Queens’ journey has ended before it began, leaving a bitter taste for Nigerian university sports.
