NFF President Gusau, Board Members Resign Amid Super Falcons World Cup Failure

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

NFF President Gusau, Board Members Resign Amid Super Falcons World Cup Failure

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and several members of the executive committee have resigned amid mounting pressure over the federation’s management of Nigerian football, following a series of national team failures and investigations into the use of public funds. General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi confirmed the development on Wednesday, stating: “Yes, the news about the resignation of the president and myself is true.” The resignations mark a historic moment for Nigerian football, being the first time an NFF president has resigned in the history of the game in the country. The development comes barely a month before the federation’s elective congress, which had been scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The NFF board had come under intense pressure following the poor management of Nigerian football, with the latest debacle being the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history. Nigeria had participated in every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991, making this a significant setback for the country’s most successful women’s football side. The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, ending their title defence and forcing them into a playoff route for World Cup qualification. Their hopes were subsequently ended by a 2-1 defeat to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana. The women’s team’s failure follows the Super Eagles missing consecutive FIFA World Cups, having failed to qualify for both the 2022 and 2026 editions. Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel publicly called for changes in the NFF leadership, warning that Nigeria risked missing a third consecutive World Cup if Gusau remained in office.

READ ALSO:

The crisis has been compounded by investigations into the management of funds released by the Federal Government for Nigeria’s national teams. The Department of State Services (DSS) has been examining the use of a ₦17 billion intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding wages, bonuses, and other payments owed to national team players. According to reports, security agencies have beamed their searchlight on officials of the NFF to show proof of what they did with the massive fund released to the Glass House. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have also reportedly stepped in to check the federation’s finances. The EFCC and ICPC investigations have proceeded to the point where the NFF has cited them as a reason for not releasing financial records under a Freedom of Information request. An authoritative source told Vanguard: “It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released,” dismissing fears of witch hunt or hounding. However, the probe extends beyond financial matters, with reports of other intelligence agencies examining communications between NFF officials and foreign nationals.

The executive committee of the NFF headed by Ibrahim Gusau was under intense pressure to resign, following the spate of failures and also following the resignation of more than half of its members. Eight of the 13 members of the NFF board have, allegedly, quit their positions. The board had reportedly met and considered the option of resigning en-masse to pave the way for a Normalisation Committee to run the country’s football for a period, allowing for needed reforms before a new board is elected. An official of the National Sports Commission reportedly described the resignation as “the first step towards restructuring the NFF.” A National Sports Commission official told Daily Post that the resignation is part of a restructuring effort, with the aim of implementing a new governance structure. The official noted that the resignations could allow for a “normalisation committee” to be established to oversee the transition.

The reported resignations could halt the scheduled September 27 elections into the board of the NFF slated for Lafia, Nasarawa State. The election was expected to usher in a new Executive Committee for the next four years, with the electoral roadmap already released. However, the dramatic change at the top of the federation has raised fundamental questions: Will Lafia still host the congress? Will the Federal Government or the National Sports Commission intervene? The NFF Statutes provide for dissolution when at least nine of 13 members resign, further complicating the situation.

Stakeholders like Chief Segun Odegbami, Dr. Danladi Bako, Barrister Godwin Dudu-orumen and Tony Ubani are all of the opinion that Gusau and his clique have no moral right to seek reelection. Another strong voice that is singing the same song, London-based anti-corruption crusader in football, Osasu Obayiuwana has joined them. The NFF’s ability to effectively govern Nigerian football has been widely questioned, with critics pointing to the “rotten” and “filthy house” of Nigerian football governance. The federation’s handling of funds has been a central concern, with one stakeholder noting that “no NFF administration has enjoyed the kind of financial windfall that the Gusau board has enjoyed,” yet there is “little or nothing to show for it.”