ABUJA — President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has resigned from office alongside the federation’s General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and members of the NFF Executive Committee.
The NFF officially confirmed the development on Thursday, August 27, following Gusau’s announcement at a press conference in Abuja. Reuters also independently reported the resignations.
Gusau, who was elected NFF president in September 2022, resigned 34 days before the scheduled end of his four-year tenure.
According to the NFF, Gusau said his decision followed consultations with his family, friends and stakeholders in Nigerian football. He said the resignation was taken after careful consideration and in the overriding interest of the country’s 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.
The leadership shake-up comes amid intense criticism of the administration following a series of setbacks involving Nigeria’s national teams.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons recently missed qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup after losing 2-1 to South Africa in a playoff. The defeat ended Nigeria’s historic run of qualifying for every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.
Gusau, however, has defended his record in office and said his decision was motivated by the need to allow others to contribute to the development of Nigerian football.
The mass resignation comes just weeks before the NFF’s scheduled elective congress on September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, potentially setting the stage for a major transition in the administration of Nigerian football.
