Gusau, Sanusi, Others Step Down from NFF Board
*Nigeria dumps NIKE, seals $4.5m per year partnership with Adidas Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The embattled Ibrahim Gusau yesterday confirmed his resignation as the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), three
Nigeria's football chief Ibrahim Gusau announced his resignation as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday, following weeks of criticism over the country's disappointing performances by the national teams. This marks the resignation of all 12 members of the NFF board, including Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of the federation. Gusau's departure comes after months of national disenchantment over the federation's failings.
In an emotional press conference at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, Gusau explained that his resignation was intended to pave the way for a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at tackling the ongoing institutional, governance, and developmental challenges facing Nigerian football. The administrator expressed satisfaction with the progress made during his tenure, including the organization of coaching courses, improved stability in the domestic league calendar, progress in the refereeing sector, and the construction of new facilities such as a 68-room Players' Hostel and training pitches at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
Gusau also highlighted the Super Eagles' silver and bronze medals earned from the past two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the Super Falcons' triumph in the 2025 WAFCON. However, he acknowledged the federation's recent setbacks, including the Super Falcons' absence from the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and the failure of the national teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
The resignation of Gusau and his colleagues has been prompted by a combination of factors, including underfunding, particularly the disparity in the exchange rate between the Naira and the US Dollar, and a lopsided sponsorship deal with NIKE. The federation's board had inherited a $500,000 annual contract from NIKE, which had been in place since 2015, but Gusau revealed that the value of the deal had remained stagnant at $500,000 per year, while the cost of kits had also increased.
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