OAU Giantess Clarify Position on Director’s Comments Regarding WAUG Exclusion

In response to a public release made on September 21, the Obafemi Awolowo University Female Football Team, OAU Giantess, have issued a public statement addressing their exclusion from the university’s contingent for the 2026 West African University Games and comments attributed to the Director of Sports, Dr Richard Ogunlusi.

In a statement dated September 24 and signed by the players and coaches of the team, the Giantess acknowledged the authority of the Sports Directorate to oversee the university’s sporting programmes and determine which teams represent OAU at competitions.

The team, however, said it became aware of a public release containing comments attributed to Dr Ogunlusi and felt compelled to respond because of what it described as a “significant disparity” between the internal communication received by the team and the contents of the public release.

The statement said the team had sought direct engagement with the university sports director and relevant university authorities in an effort to resolve the differences and present its perspective. According to the Giantess, the discussions produced three key clarifications.

The Director Reaffirms Financial Constraints as Reason for Exclusion

The team maintained that financial considerations were the major reason for its exclusion from WAUG 2026. “The Director maintains that financial constraints remain the major reason for the team’s exclusion from the international event (WAUG 2026),” the statement said.

This position is consistent with the account previously given by Giantess coach Yengibiri Henry, who recalled that the explanation communicated to the team centred on the need to reduce the number of athletes because of financial constraints. That clarification became necessary because the public comments previously attributed to Dr Ogunlusi had cited the team’s preparation, competitiveness and previous record as factors behind the decision.

Team Rejects Comments on Preparation and Competitiveness

The Giantess also directly addressed descriptions attributed to the university Director of Sports concerning the team’s preparation and playing strength. The statement rejected reports that the team “has not really been training” and that it does not have a “solid” or “formidable” squad or good “antecedents”.

According to the team, those reports and other "malnourished" opinions concerning the quality of the squad had been “clarified and dismissed.” The need for this clarification stemmed from the sporting assessment that had featured in the public discussion. Rather than presenting the issue as a dispute over the university's authority to select its representatives, the team maintained that the clarification was necessary because of the difference between what had been communicated internally and what subsequently appeared publicly.

Director of Sports Still Supports the Team

The statement also sought to ease concerns about the relationship between the team and the Sports Directorate. The Giantess said Dr Ogunlusi remains “in full support of the team” and that the coaches would continue to work with the Sports Council leadership.

“The coaches will continue to cooperate with the sport council leadership and interact with them directly to sustain the development of the sport whose influence extends beyond the campus,” the statement said.

That position suggests that the team does not intend for the public mix-ups over the WAUG exclusion to become a lasting dispute with the university's sports administration. The team subsequently declared that the matter had been “laid to peaceful rest”.

Brief Account of Meeting with Director

Further context has emerged from former Giantess captain Adekunle Gloria, who was among those who met with Dr Ogunlusi following the public release. According to Gloria, the director acknowledged that the WAUG decision is fortified but pleaded with the team and the wider OAU alumni community. The Director also acknowledged that some of the information surrounding the team and its activities had not previously been brought to his attention.

Gloria revealed Dr Ogunlusi explained that, during the team’s preparations for [2024] Pre-NUGA, he had received the team captain [at the time] and offered his support. From his observation, the director said the subsequent discussions about the team revealed gaps in the flow of information and communication surrounding the team’s activities.

The Director also told the group that he had not been aware of the Osun Intercollegiate Games, which took place before the NUGA preliminaries, and several of the challenges faced by the team at both tournaments, until they were brought to his attention during the meeting.

Director Ogunlusi Calls for Greater Institutionalisation of the Team

According to Gloria, Dr Ogunlusi also identified a broader administrative issue that he believed needed to be addressed. The Director acknowledged that the Giantess is not formally recognised within the university structure as a school team and that there is currently no designated representative of the team within the Sports Council.

The Director reportedly described this as a root issue that needed to be addressed by fully institutionalising the team. Gloria said the group subsequently called for the team to have its own designated representatives and coaches, with clearer responsibility for its administration and development.

According to her account, the Director requested the current list of players involved with the team and called for amendments that would help formalise its structure. These included properly documenting the team and ensuring that responsibility for it is clearly communicated and captured in official handover notes.

The OAU Giantess Ask the Public to Avoid Further Speculation

Having issued its clarification, the team also called on students, supporters and members of the public to avoid further speculation about the circumstances surrounding the exclusion.

“To prevent further misinformation, we urge students, supporters, and the public to refrain from unhelpful speculation,” the statement said.

The Giantess also expressed support for the wider OAU contingent heading to the Games in October, wishing the university’s representatives success and promising to support them “both in the stands and online.” The team concluded by reaffirming its commitment to representing OAU “with integrity, excellence, and sportsmanship".

Looking holistically, this statement brings the Giantess’ public response to the WAUG exclusion controversy to a close, at least for now. The team had been in operation for over a decade and has influenced communities both on campus and beyond. As a team, their immediate focus now appears to be on continuing the development of female football in line with the shared vision.

Full Statement