The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is facing another leadership crisis after president Ibrahim Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the NFF executive committee members have announced that they have resigned, thus leaving Nigerian football without any elected leadership.
Gusau announced his resignation at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he indicated that his decision was made after much consultation with his relatives, friends, and others in football.
His term as president would have ended in just 34 days after having assumed the post in September last year.
The resignations were preceded by criticism of the failures made by the Nigeria football teams during the World Cup and women’s World Cup campaigns.
Why did the NFF leadership resign?
Gusau did not mention any particular cause for his stepping down, but according to him, he came to this decision through consultations with people who know him personally and the stakeholders in football in Nigeria.
There was increased pressure on the NFF leadership following several poor performances by the country’s senior team and its junior team.
The senior national men’s team in Nigeria has failed to make it to the past two FIFA World Cups, which is quite uncommon for a nation that has been one of the most successful in Africa in the sport.
Pressure on the NFF further increased when the Super Falcons failed to make it to the 2027 Women’s World Cup, thereby bringing an end to the history of Nigeria playing in all editions of the women’s World Cup since 1991.
Pressure from the World Cup Failure by the Super Falcons
Nigeria went into the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as defending champions but were knocked out by Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
Eventually, they lost the play-off match against South Africa and broke their streak of successfully qualifying for the World Cup.
This marked a serious blow for the development of football in Nigeria and cast a shadow on the management of the NFF.
In spite of all these problems, Gusau spoke positively about the future of the sport in the country.
“Going forward, I know the future of Nigerian football will be great,” said Gusau, adding that he hopes his expertise and contacts in African football can help the country.
Football Crisis in Nigeria Goes Farther than the National Teams
It is worth noting that the crisis does not stop at the national teams of Nigeria.
The country has also failed to consistently show good results in youth championships, which indicates a problem with the players’ development and the whole infrastructure of Nigerian football.
Under Gusau’s administration, the Super Eagles became runners-up of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
But the series of failures in the men’s World Cup and the Super Falcons’ recent failure raised even stronger expectations about the need for reform in Nigerian football.
Financial and Governance Questions for the NFF
This leadership question comes at a time when there have been questions about how the NFF handles its finances and governance.
One matter that has gained much interest involves a 17 billion naira ($12.66 million) intervention fund provided by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 for settling unpaid amounts for Nigeria’s national football teams.
There have been no reports on findings concerning this matter. But it has been reported that it was a review of the financial and administrative process.
Additionally, there have been questions about the NFF since the establishment of a fact-finding committee after the WAFCON exit of Nigeria.
Based on the report of the fact-finding committee, there had been suggestions that NFF board members were influential in team selection and that financial considerations may have dictated the team selections.
NFF Emergency Congress Set to Determine Future Steps
An emergency congress has been summoned by the NFF in Abuja, after the departure of Gusau, Sanusi, and the remaining 11 executive members.
This congress will take a look at the leadership position of the federation, its statutes, and the demands of the CAF and FIFA, respectively.
The particular significance of this lies in the fact that NFF elections are to take place in September.
This leadership crisis might complicate the process of the elections and even question whether the process can continue as it had originally been planned.
More Football Stories You Shouldn’t Miss
How Was Ahmed Sani Toro Freed?
Check out the latest details surrounding Ahmed Sani Toro’s release by kidnappers.
Who Are Nigeria’s Richest Footballers Today?
Find the top 10 richest footballers in Nigeria and discover their wealth.
Why Are Leaders Backing Infantino Now?
Uncover how the CAF feud could shape the future of African football.
How Did Chawinga Shine Despite Defeat?
See how Chawinga emerged as a standout star despite Malawi’s WAFCON exit.
Which Teams Still Chase WAFCON Glory?
Track down the teams still competing for the 2026 African Women’s Football Trophy.
