By Oscar Okhifo
A major leadership shake-up has reportedly hit the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the federation’s President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, and members of its Executive Committee said to have resigned.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the NFF and the officials involved had yet to issue official statements confirming the development.
The reported resignations come amid mounting criticism of the administration over the performance of Nigeria’s national teams, the management of domestic football and concerns over the federation’s handling of players’ and officials’ entitlements.
Pressure on the NFF intensified following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, ending Nigeria’s record of appearing at every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1991.
Under Gusau, several national teams and domestic clubs have faced disappointing results and missed opportunities to qualify for major international competitions, while complaints over delayed or unpaid allowances and other entitlements have remained a recurring concern within the football community.
Gusau had previously expressed interest in seeking re-election, but calls for his resignation and the dissolution of the Executive Committee had grown louder, with stakeholders demanding a comprehensive review of the federation’s affairs.
Beyond sporting performance, concerns have also been raised about political and government interference in football administration and the possibility of sanctions from FIFA if the country’s football authorities are deemed to have lost their independence.
Some football enthusiasts and analysts, however, have argued that the threat of FIFA sanctions should not deter Nigeria from pursuing fundamental reforms. They contend that the country’s football administration requires a major overhaul to restore confidence and improve the fortunes of the game.
With the reported resignations, attention is expected to shift to the next phase of the NFF’s leadership.
Stakeholders are calling for the emergence of experienced and competent football administrators who can rebuild confidence in the federation, strengthen the national teams and improve the administration of domestic football.
There are also expectations that the next leadership will operate independently and that political considerations will not determine who controls the affairs of Nigerian football.
The circumstances surrounding the resignations and the process for replacing the officials remain unclear pending an official announcement.