NFF President Ibrahim Gusau Resigns

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has resigned from his position with immediate effect.

Mr Gusau announced his decision during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, confirming that he and the entire NFF Executive Board had also stepped down.

The unexpected resignation comes amid growing criticism of the federation’s leadership following a string of disappointing results involving Nigeria’s national teams.

The latest setback reportedly came with the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking the first time Nigeria has failed to secure a place at the tournament.

The development has intensified scrutiny of the NFF, with fans, former players and other football stakeholders raising concerns about the management of women’s football and the broader direction of the sport in Nigeria.

The federation has also faced criticism over the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for successive FIFA World Cups. Nigeria missed the 2022 tournament and subsequently failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The poor performances have sparked renewed calls for major reforms within Nigerian football, with stakeholders demanding greater accountability and changes to the administration of the sport.

Gusau’s resignation, together with that of the other members of the Executive Board, represents a major development for Nigerian football and could usher in a new chapter for the NFF.

Attention is now expected to turn to the next steps, including the possible formation of an interim administration and the organisation of fresh elections to provide new leadership for the federation.

Further details are expected as the NFF outlines arrangements following the resignation of the board.