Nigeria's football governing body has been plunged into turmoil after its entire leadership stepped down, leaving a vacuum at the top of the sport following a string of sporting setbacks and growing scrutiny over administrative practices.
NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the 11 other members of the executive committee all resigned this week, with Gusau announcing the decision at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. Notably, his tenure had only 34 days left to run before he was expected to seek re-election.
Gusau said the choice to walk away came "after consultation with family, friends and stakeholders." He struck an optimistic tone about what lies ahead for the federation, stating: "Going forward, I know the future of Nigerian football will be great. I hope we will continue to give our contribution, because our experience and the connections and relationship we have within African football, we'll never allow it to go to vain."
Gusau took charge of the NFF in September 2022, and his time in office included a runner-up finish for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. However, that high point has been overshadowed by repeated disappointments elsewhere. The men's national team has now failed to reach the last two World Cups, an alarming slide for a nation long considered among Africa's football giants.
The pressure escalated sharply in recent weeks after the Super Falcons, Nigeria's women's national team, failed to secure qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup. That result ended the country's unblemished record of appearing at every edition of the tournament since it began in 1991. The Super Falcons had entered the Women's Africa Cup of Nations as reigning champions but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Cameroon, before a subsequent World Cup play-off defeat to South Africa sealed their fate.
Youth and age-grade teams have also struggled to make an impression on the continental and global stage during Gusau's time in charge, adding to the sense that Nigerian football is in decline across multiple levels.
Beyond results, the federation has come under fire over its financial management and internal governance. Scrutiny has centred on a 17 billion naira (roughly $12.66m/£9.31m) intervention fund said to have been approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to clear outstanding debts owed to the national teams. Although no official findings have been made public, individuals familiar with ongoing reviews say financial records and administrative processes are being closely examined.
A separate fact-finding committee, established by the NFF following the Super Falcons' Wafcon exit, uncovered troubling issues at board level, including claims that executive committee members have interfered with team selection and that some officials and coaches have based squad call-ups on financial incentives rather than merit.
The NFF has now called an emergency congress in Abuja to chart a path forward. Discussions are expected to address the standing of the former executive committee and whether the federation has complied with its own statutes, as well as those of the Confederation of African Football and FIFA. The turmoil has also cast doubt on NFF elections originally planned for September, with speculation growing that FIFA could install a normalisation committee to steer the federation toward fresh elections.
Former Nigeria internationals, including John Obi Mikel, Jay-Jay Okocha and Segun Odegbami, have been vocal in demanding a clean break from longstanding administrators they blame for years of underachievement. While the resignations have created short-term instability, some observers see the moment as a potential turning point for genuine reform within Nigerian football, as the country seeks to restore trust in its governing body amid both sporting and off-field difficulties.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.