NFF President Gusau, Entire Executive Committee Resign; Tinubu Orders Football Reform
sports
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and the entire Executive Committee have resigned following repeated national team qualification failures, prompting President Tinubu to order a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the rest of the federation's Executive Committee have resigned, in only the third mass board resignation in the NFF's history, prompting President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football.
Gusau announced his resignation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, August 27, 2026, saying the decision was intended to "give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process" addressing longstanding institutional, governance and developmental problems in Nigerian football. He had been elected NFF president in September 2022 and was due to complete his four-year tenure the following month, barely a month before the federation's elective congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Sanusi, who had served as General Secretary for over 11 years, also confirmed his resignation.
The shake-up follows a string of qualification failures: the Super Eagles were eliminated by the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the African play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1991, losing to South Africa in a play-off. The Flying Eagles also missed out on the next Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, and the five-time world champion Golden Eaglets have now missed three consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cups. A fact-finding committee chaired by former NFF general secretary Fanny Amun had earlier raised concerns about the federation's resource allocation, unpaid coaches and players, and alleged interference in team selections.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said Nigeria's repeated failures reflected "structural weaknesses" rather than a lack of talent or investment, and directed the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat to ensure no vacuum in football administration. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) separately confirmed that its investigation into a ₦12 billion federal intervention fund for the NFF would continue regardless of the leadership changes.