The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, announced his resignation on Thursday, just one month before the federation's next elective congress. The decision comes amid allegations of corruption and a series of disappointing results for the national teams.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Gusau said: "I have decided to resign as NFF president" and added that he had "advised" other members of the executive board to do the same. According to local media, several board members have also stepped down.
Local reports indicate that the NFF is under investigation by the State Security Service (DSS), Nigeria's secret police, over alleged misappropriation of 17 billion naira (about $12.7 million) allocated by the government in 2024 to settle outstanding payments owed to players and officials of the national teams.
Following Gusau's resignation, the office of President Bola Tinubu said he had ordered a "comprehensive reform" of the country's football administration to address "structural deficiencies in the system." In a statement issued by media adviser Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu stressed: "The reform must address the long-term need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions, and accountability across Nigerian football."
As one of Africa's leading football nations, Nigeria's football governing body has long faced accusations of corruption and mismanagement. National team players and coaches have repeatedly protested over unpaid allowances.
The latest crisis erupted after the women's team, the Super Falcons, failed to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup. The team, a ten-time African champion, was eliminated in the quarter-finals of this year's tournament and then lost 2-1 to South Africa in a World Cup qualifying playoff. The defeat means Nigeria will miss the global tournament for the first time since its inception in 1991. Meanwhile, the men's Super Eagles also failed to qualify for the last two World Cups.
Despite his resignation, Gusau defended his record, attributing the federation's financial difficulties to the country's economic downturn and foreign exchange volatility. He also announced a partnership deal with Adidas that would bring Nigeria $4.5 million annually.
