The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau and other board members of the NFF resigned from office on Thursday.
The resignation followed growing concerns over the management of Nigerian football and the recent poor performance of the Nigerian national teams in regional and global competitions.
It will be recalled that the Super Eagles had failed to qualify for consecutive FIFA World Cups, while the Super Falcons recently suffered the historic setback of missing the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
These failures have intensified calls for structural reforms to restore Nigeria’s football fortunes and ensure better administration and development of the sport.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football. following repeated failures by national teams to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.
Tinubu said that the reform should address longstanding weaknesses in governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” the statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday in Abuja, quoted President Tinubu as saying.
The reform, according to Tinubu, must match Nigeria’s exceptional football talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.
Tinubu noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress following the reset of the sector under the re-established National Sports Commission (NSC), football continued to face structural challenges.
President Tinubu directed the NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration.
He also directed the commission to facilitate a broad and consultative reform process involving key stakeholders.
The process, according to the Nigerian President, should include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations under the international football framework.
Tinubu also called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, accountable and successful football system.
GIK/APA