By Ben Efe 27.8.2026
Nigeria Football is set to get a new lease of administrative life following the mass resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation board Thursday in Abuja.
Speaking during a press conference Gusau said he took the decision because of the overall interest of Nigeria football, which had been hit with a losing trend like never been seen in the country considered a powerhouse in global and continental football.
“My resignation is intended to give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian football,” Gusau said.
It was gathered that Gusau who had insisted on staying on for another four years, realised he was climbing a greasy pole after the kitchen cabinet of President Bola Tinubu told him he had to go.
According to sources the President and his inner circle were not happy with the failures of the national senior men and women teams, the cadet teams, which failed in their qualification bid for the FIFA World Cup in all categories despite the enormous financial backing given to the NFF.
Secretary-general Sanusi Mohammed who made Nigerians believe a bogus petition filed against Congo DR after the Super Eagles failed to pick a ticket via the playoffs will succeed, also resigned, as did all the executive committee members.
There have been calls from angry Nigerian football fans and stakeholders for the NFF board to go, but Gusau and his goons held on and played the FIFA sanctions for government interference card. However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino who himself is under pressure was not willing to intervene, he was also frustrated by Nigeria’s lack of football progress, despite the grants given to all federations to develop football in their domain.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was when the Super Falcons failed to pick a ticket for the 2027 FIFA Women World Cup at the just concluded Women Africa Cup of Nations, it would be the first time Nigeria would be sitting out of the tournament since it was inaugurated 1991 in Beijing China.
It is not yet clear the next line of action, but there is speculation an interim management committee would be set up to run the affairs of football in the country, till a new board is installed. Elections had earlier been scheduled for September 30 in Benin City, with States FA chairmen already endorsing Gusau
Ibrahim Gusau...bows to pressure to resign.