Ibrahim Gusau resigns as NFF president amid crisis in Nigerian football
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau has resigned from office, bringing his tenure as the country’s football administrator to an abrupt end.
Gusau announced his resignation on Thursday, August 27, during a press conference at the NFF headquarters in Abuja. He said he decided to step aside to give other Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to the development of football.
Gusau, who was elected NFF president in September 2022, said that despite the recent failures of Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams to qualify for the 2026 and 2027 FIFA World Cups, respectively, he was leaving the federation in a better position than he found it.
His resignation comes after weeks of intense pressure on the NFF leadership following a series of disappointing results. The Super Eagles missed the 2026 World Cup, while the Super Falcons also failed to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup — a particularly significant setback for a team that has historically been one of Africa’s strongest.
The federation has also faced scrutiny over the management of government funds allocated to football. Reports have linked the crisis to investigations into the use of billions of naira in federal intervention funds, although allegations of financial wrongdoing should not be treated as established facts unless confirmed by investigators or a court.
Gusau said he had advised members of his Executive Committee to also resign, although he said he could not confirm how many had actually stepped down at the time of his announcement. Reports had earlier indicated that several board members were considering or had submitted their resignations.
The leadership change comes just weeks before the NFF’s scheduled September 27 elective congress, creating uncertainty over the federation’s leadership and the process for choosing a new executive.
