JUST IN:Gusau Steps Down as NFF President.

By Nasir Bala

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has resigned from office, bringing his leadership of the country’s football governing body to an early end.

THE NATIONAL LENS reports that Gusau announced his decision on Thursday during a press conference at the NFF headquarters in Abuja, saying he was stepping aside to allow other Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to the development of football in the country.

The decision comes at a difficult period for Nigerian football, with mounting concerns over the performance of the national teams and growing demands for changes in the administration of the sport.

The Super Eagles missed out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons also failed to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The latter brought an end to Nigeria’s remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the women’s tournament since its launch in 1991.

Gusau, who was elected NFF president in September 2022, defended his tenure, saying he was leaving the federation in a better position than he inherited it.

He also disclosed that he had informed members of his board about his decision and advised those willing to follow him to also resign. However, at the time of his announcement, he said he could not confirm which board members had formally stepped down.

The development followed weeks of pressure on the NFF leadership, with calls for a major restructuring of football administration gaining momentum after a succession of setbacks involving Nigeria’s national teams.

NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi also announced his resignation earlier on Thursday, adding another significant dimension to the leadership changes within the federation.

The unfolding situation could now pave the way for a broader reorganisation of Nigerian football administration, although the precise structure of the transition remains to be clarified.

Gusau, meanwhile, said his departure would not end his involvement in Nigerian football. He pledged to continue offering his experience and relationships within African football whenever his services are required.

His resignation now places the future leadership of the NFF firmly at the centre of attention, with football stakeholders expected to closely watch the next steps toward stabilising the federation and rebuilding confidence in the administration of the sport.

For Nigerian football, the immediate challenge goes beyond replacing an individual. It is about restoring competitiveness on the international stage, strengthening administration and creating a system capable of delivering consistent results across the national teams.