By Chesa Chesa
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has resigned from office as President Bola Tinubu directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following a series of setbacks by the country’s national teams.
Gusau announced his resignation on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja, bringing his tenure to an early end amid mounting criticism over the state of Nigerian football.
The NFF subsequently confirmed that General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee had also resigned. Gusau said his decision followed consultations with his family, friends and football stakeholders and was taken in the overriding interest of Nigerian football.
The leadership shake-up comes after Nigeria suffered major qualification setbacks, including the Super Eagles’ failure to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ historic failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons had participated in every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991 but lost 2-1 to South Africa in the qualifying play-off, while the Super Eagles were eliminated by the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the African play-off for the 2026 World Cup.
Gusau, who was elected NFF president in September 2022, was due to complete his four-year tenure in September. His resignation comes barely a month before the federation’s scheduled elective congress on September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Explaining his decision, Gusau said he had also advised members of his board who were willing to follow his example to resign.
He said he remained committed to Nigerian football and would continue to contribute his experience and relationships within African football whenever required.
The resignation came as President Tinubu directed the commencement of a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, saying the country must address the structural weaknesses responsible for repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.
Tinubu said the reform must strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across the football system.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” the President said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.
According to the President, while other sports have recorded meaningful progress following the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of weaknesses within its institutional structure.
He said Nigeria’s exceptional football talent, passion and resources must be matched with stronger institutions and sustained performance.
Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to maintain continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process.
The President also directed that the process should involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.
Gusau, NFF members resign, FG orders comprehensive football reform
