The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after its president, Ibrahim Gusau, announced his resignation on Thursday.
Gusau made the announcement while addressing journalists in Abuja, with members of the federation’s Executive Committee also reported to have stepped aside from their positions.
The leadership shake-up comes at a turbulent time for Nigerian football, with the national teams recently recording a series of disappointing results.
The latest setback came from the Super Falcons, who lost 2-1 to South Africa in the play-off for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The defeat ended Nigeria’s long-standing record of appearing at every edition of the women’s tournament.
The Falcons had also suffered an earlier blow at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where their campaign ended in the quarter-finals following a defeat to Cameroon.
On the men’s side, the Super Eagles failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding to the growing concerns surrounding the country’s football administration.
Beyond the teams’ performances, the NFF has also come under pressure over the use of a ₦17bn financial intervention from the Federal Government in 2024.
A separate fact-finding committee had also raised concerns over alleged interference by federation officials and board members in the selection of players for national team assignments, with claims that some individuals sought financial benefits from the process.
Gusau’s departure comes shortly before the federation’s next elective congress. The election is scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The latest resignations are expected to further reshape the leadership of Nigerian football ahead of the congress.
More details later…
