NFF president Ibrahim Gusau announces resignation amid growing criticism

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Ibrahim Gusau has resigned from his position amid mounting criticism of the country’s football administration.

Gusau announced his decision at a press conference at the NFF Glass House in Abuja on Thursday.

“I can confirm to you that I have decided to resign from my position as NFF President. I also advised my board members to follow me and also resign,” he said.

His resignation comes as the NFF faces scrutiny over the management of an £8.5m ($11m) Federal Government intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding wages and bonuses owed to Nigeria’s national teams.

The federation has also come under pressure following a series of disappointing results involving the country’s senior men’s and women’s teams.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the Super Falcons also missed out on the Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria’s women’s team had appeared at every Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991. However, a series of defeats left them outside the automatic qualification places before they were eventually eliminated in the playoffs.

Gusau was elected NFF president at the federation’s 78th Elective Congress in September 2022.

His decision to step down comes shortly before the end of his tenure and could create uncertainty around the federation’s electoral process.

The NFF had scheduled its next board elections for 27 September in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Gusau said he had chosen to resign to allow other Nigerians to play a role in the development of football in the country.

He also defended his record in office, insisting that despite the failure of the national teams to qualify for the respective World Cups, he was leaving the federation in a stronger position than he found it.

Gusau added that he had advised members of his board to also resign, although he said he was not aware of any board member who had followed his example.

The NFF is yet to announce how the federation will be administered following Gusau’s resignation or whether the planned 27 September elections will go ahead as scheduled.