President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has resigned from office, with members of the federation’s Executive Committee and General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also stepping down amid mounting concerns over the state of Nigerian football.
Gusau announced his resignation on Thursday during a press conference at the NFF headquarters in Abuja, saying he had decided to give other Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to the development of football in the country.
The NFF subsequently confirmed the resignation of Gusau, the Executive Committee and Sanusi in a statement on its official X account.
The leadership shake-up comes against the backdrop of a difficult period for Nigerian football, with the Super Eagles failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons suffering a historic failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons’ World Cup hopes ended after a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the qualifying play-off, following their elimination by Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The setbacks intensified criticism of the NFF leadership and prompted wider scrutiny of the administration of the country’s national teams.
The federation has also faced scrutiny over the management of a Federal Government intervention fund reportedly released in 2024 to address outstanding financial obligations to national team players and officials.
A fact-finding committee set up by the NFF following the Super Falcons’ campaign also raised allegations concerning the administration of the national teams, including claims that some board members and officials influenced player invitations for financial gain. The allegations remain under scrutiny and have not been established as proven wrongdoing.
The resignations come weeks before the NFF’s scheduled elective congress on September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where a new leadership is expected to emerge. The development could therefore have implications for the federation’s planned electoral process.
Gusau was elected NFF president at the federation’s 78th Elective Congress in September 2022 in Edo State. His resignation brings his tenure to an abrupt end shortly before the expiration of his term.
Earlier on Thursday, General Secretary Sanusi also announced his resignation while addressing members of the federation’s secretariat, further deepening the leadership transition at the NFF.
The latest development leaves Nigerian football at a significant crossroads, with the federation now facing the task of managing a leadership transition while rebuilding the national teams, strengthening football administration and restoring confidence among players, supporters and other stakeholders.
