Gusau Resigns as NFF Board Faces Crisis Over Football Failures

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has resigned from office alongside other members of the federation’s board, as pressure mounts over the state of Nigerian football.

The development follows growing criticism of the NFF’s handling of the country’s football affairs, with the federation facing a series of setbacks in recent years.

The latest controversy followed the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the first time Nigeria will miss the tournament since its inception in 1991.

Vanguard learnt that security agencies had also increased scrutiny of the NFF over the management of billions of naira released by the Federal Government for the country’s national teams.

Security Agencies Probe N17bn Fund

The Department of State Services (DSS) is investigating the NFF’s utilisation of the N17 billion intervention fund approved by the Federal Government for players’ salaries and bonuses.

President Bola Tinubu approved the funds in 2024 to address outstanding financial obligations to players representing Nigeria’s national teams.

A highly placed source told Vanguard on Monday that the DSS was demanding records from NFF officials detailing how the funds released to the Glass House were spent.

“It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released them,” the source said, while rejecting suggestions that the exercise was designed to witch-hunt or hound NFF officials.

The probe comes at a time of heightened concerns over the administration of Nigerian football and what critics describe as a systemic decline in the country’s football fortunes.

The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for successive FIFA World Cups, while the Super Falcons have now suffered the unprecedented setback of missing the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Falcons’ hopes of automatic qualification were dealt a major blow after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The result ended Nigeria’s title defence and forced the team into the playoff route.

In the subsequent World Cup qualification playoff, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana defeated the Super Falcons 2-1.

The setback means Nigeria, which had featured at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1991, will miss the tournament for the first time.

Eight Board Members Allegedly Quit

Gusau’s executive committee had faced mounting calls for its members to resign following the succession of disappointing results and the resignation of more than half of the board.

According to reports, eight of the 13 members of the NFF board had allegedly resigned.

The mass departures could have implications for the NFF’s planned election scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

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