Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau has resigned from office, bringing his tenure to an end amid mounting criticism over the country’s failure to qualify for major international tournaments.
Gusau announced his resignation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, saying the decision followed consultations with his family, friends and key stakeholders.
“As Nigerians, nobody is greater than this country. We all love our country and its progress. And as people who have been in football and managing football, we need to look at ourselves and ask, ‘What next?’ So we made a lot of consultations,” Gusau said.
He also disclosed that he had advised members of the NFF board to consider stepping down, although he could not confirm whether they would follow his lead.
Shortly after Gusau’s announcement, the NFF confirmed on its official X account that its General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, had also resigned.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) is reportedly considering the appointment of a chairman for a Normalisation Committee to oversee the affairs of the football federation. An announcement is expected soon.
Gusau was elected NFF president in 2022, with his tenure scheduled to end this month. An elective congress had been planned for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, but its future remains uncertain amid the proposed formation of the Normalisation Committee.
Pressure had been building on Gusau’s administration following a series of disappointing results involving Nigeria’s national teams.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, meaning Nigeria will miss the tournament for a second consecutive edition despite Africa receiving an increased allocation of World Cup slots.
The Super Falcons also suffered a major setback after failing to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, ending Nigeria’s record of appearing at every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1991. Their campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the African play-off in Morocco.
Nigeria’s struggles also extended to the age-grade level, with the national U-17 team missing out on its World Cup qualification cycle.
The resignations of Gusau and Sanusi now add further uncertainty to the future leadership and administration of Nigerian football.
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