Ibrahim Gusau has resigned as NFF president, while General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi also stepped down amid mounting criticism following Nigeria’s national teams’ World Cup qualification failures.

Ibrahim Gusau has resigned as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), bringing his tenure at the helm of Nigerian football to an abrupt end.

Gusau confirmed his resignation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, saying he made the decision after consultations with his family, friends and football stakeholders.

“After consultation with family, friends and stakeholders, I just want to tell you that I have decided to resign from my position,” Gusau said.

He said the decision was taken in the interest of the country and Nigerian football.

“As Nigerians, nobody is greater than this country. We all love our country and its progress. And as people who have been in football and managing football, we need to look at ourselves and ask, ‘What next?’ so we made a lot of consultations,” he added.

Gusau also advised other members of the NFF board to consider following his example, although he acknowledged that he could not determine whether they would accept his advice.

Minutes after Gusau announced his resignation, the NFF confirmed on its X account that its General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, had also stepped down from his position.

The departures mark a major shake-up of the federation’s leadership and come amid mounting criticism of the NFF following a series of disappointing results across Nigeria’s national teams.

Super Falcons’ World Cup Failure

The latest crisis was triggered by the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria had featured at every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991. Their failure to secure qualification for the 2027 tournament therefore ended one of the longest-running records in women’s international football.The setback generated widespread criticism of the NFF and intensified calls for changes within the federation.

The NFF leadership also faced scrutiny over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The Super Eagles missed out despite Africa receiving an expanded allocation of 10 places for the tournament.

Nigeria’s struggles extended to the country’s age-grade teams, with the men’s U-17 and U-20 sides also failing to qualify for their respective World Cups.The sequence of failures has raised broader questions about the administration, development structures and technical direction of Nigerian football.

Gusau’s Tenure

Gusau was elected NFF president in 2022 and was expected to remain in office until next month, with an elective congress scheduled for September 27.

His resignation, however, has thrown the future of the planned congress into uncertainty.

There have been reports that a normalisation committee could be established to oversee the affairs of the federation until a new electoral process is determined.

The leadership changes also follow reported pressure on the NFF board from senior government officials, including the National Sports Commission and the presidency, following the Super Falcons’ World Cup qualification failure.

Gusau’s departure therefore comes at a critical moment for Nigerian football, with the federation facing the task of restoring confidence in its administration while addressing concerns over the performance and development of the country’s national teams.

For now, the immediate question is who will take charge of the NFF and whether the scheduled September 27 elective congress will proceed as planned or be suspended pending a new arrangement.

Gusau’s resignation closes his chapter as NFF president, but it also opens a new and uncertain one for Nigerian football.