NFF President Gusau, Other Board Members Resign
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, and other members of the federation’s executive committee have resigned from their positions.
The development comes amid mounting pressure on the NFF leadership over the management and administration of Nigerian football, following a series of disappointing results involving the country’s national teams.
The pressure intensified after the Super Falcons failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, ending Nigeria’s unbroken participation in the tournament since its inaugural edition in 1991.
The NFF board has also come under scrutiny over the management of funds released by the Federal Government for the national football teams, particularly a reported N17 billion intervention fund approved in 2024 to settle outstanding players’ wages and bonuses.
DSS Probes N17bn NFF Fund
The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly joined other security agencies in examining the utilisation of the N17 billion intervention fund released to the NFF.
An authoritative source disclosed that the DSS had commenced a review of documents relating to the fund and was seeking explanations from relevant NFF officials on how the money was utilised.
“It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released to them,” the source said, dismissing concerns that the exercise was aimed at witch hunting or hounding NFF officials.
The probe comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over the administration of Nigeria’s national football teams, with the country experiencing a series of setbacks on the international stage.
The Super Eagles have missed consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, while the Super Falcons recently suffered a setback in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), a result that ended their title defence and denied them automatic qualification for the World Cup.
Nigeria subsequently entered the qualification playoff route, where the Super Falcons suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.
The latest developments have further intensified calls for changes in the leadership and administration of Nigerian football.
Pressure Mounts on NFF Board
The executive committee led by Gusau had reportedly been under increasing pressure to resign following the recent setbacks involving the national teams and the departure of several members of the board.
Reports indicate that eight of the 13 members of the NFF executive committee have now resigned from their positions.
The mass resignation could have implications for the NFF’s scheduled elective congress and the September 27 elections into the federation’s executive committee in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The development is expected to trigger further discussions among stakeholders over the future leadership of Nigerian football and the direction of the federation ahead of the next electoral cycle.