President Bola Tinubu has directed a complete reform of Nigerian soccer following the resignation of Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Basic Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and different members of the NFF Govt Committee.
The President stated the reform is aimed toward addressing the repeated failures of Nigeria’s nationwide groups to qualify for main regional, continental and world competitions.
“The reform should reply to a longstanding have to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder illustration, improvement pathways, home competitions and accountability throughout Nigerian soccer,” he stated.
Tinubu famous that whereas different sports activities have made significant progress because the reset of the sports activities sector beneath the re-established Nationwide Sports activities Fee, soccer has continued to battle due to structural weaknesses.
“Soccer, Nigeria’s hottest sport and the best beneficiary of public assist, funding and nationwide consideration, has continued to battle mainly because of structural deficits inside the system,” Tinubu stated.
The President pressured that Nigerian soccer should match the nation’s distinctive expertise, ardour and sources with stronger establishments and higher outcomes.
He directed the Chairman of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee to work with the NFF Secretariat and related soccer stakeholders to make sure continuity in important soccer administration and lead a broad session on the reform course of.
The method may even embody acceptable engagement with FIFA and CAF whereas defending Nigeria’s obligations beneath the worldwide soccer framework.
Tinubu referred to as on soccer stakeholders and Nigerians to assist the transition and work collectively to construct a stronger, extra accountable and profitable soccer system.
Gusau, Sanusi Resign as NFF Faces Main Shake-Up
Earlier on Thursday, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Basic Secretary Mohammed Sanusi resigned from their positions amid rising considerations over the latest poor performances of Nigeria’s nationwide groups.
It was additionally learnt that members of the NFF Govt Committee had resigned.
Gusau resigned 34 days earlier than the tip of his four-year tenure. He was elected NFF President on the Annual Basic Meeting of Nigeria Soccer in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, on September 30, 2022.
Gusau stated his determination adopted consultations together with his household, pals and stakeholders within the soccer group. He additionally stated he had knowledgeable members of the Govt Committee.
“My resignation is meant to present method to a complete and orderly reform course of aimed toward addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian soccer.”
Talking at a press convention on the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, Gusau stated he was leaving workplace glad with among the achievements recorded throughout his tenure.
He highlighted the elevated give attention to teaching schooling, saying teaching programs had been organised throughout nearly all licence classes. He added that the long-awaited CAF A-License course is scheduled to start on September 13.
Gusau additionally talked about enhancements within the home league calendar, progress in refereeing and the development of a 68-room Gamers’ Hostel and new coaching pitches on the MKO Abiola Nationwide Stadium.
He additionally pointed to the Tremendous Eagles’ silver and bronze medals on the final two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the Tremendous Falcons’ WAFCON triumph in Morocco in 2025.
Nonetheless, the administration got here beneath elevated strain following poor outcomes from a few of Nigeria’s nationwide groups.
The most recent setback was the Tremendous Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup, ending Nigeria’s document of showing at each version of the event because it started in China 35 years in the past.
That failure got here after the Tremendous Eagles missed out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. Nigeria’s U20 staff additionally didn’t qualify for subsequent yr’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
The most recent developments have now opened the way in which for the excellent reform ordered by President Tinubu.
