The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has announced his resignation from office.
He made the announcement during a press conference at the NFF Glass House in Abuja on Thursday.
Addressing the press, Gusau said he decided to step aside to give other Nigerians the opportunity to contribute to the development of football in the country.
He maintained that despite the failure of the federation’s men’s and women’s teams to qualify for the World Cups, he was leaving the NFF in a better position than he found it.
Gusau also disclosed that he had advised members of his board to resign, but said he was not aware of any board member who had so far stepped down.
“I just want to tell you that I decided to resign my position as the NFF President. I informed my board members and advised them that anybody who wants to follow me to also resign, but as I am talking to you I cannot tell you who and who or how many board members that have resigned,” he said.
Gusau said he would continue to contribute to the development of football in Nigeria, pledging to make his experience and connections within African football available whenever the country needs them.
“By the grace of God I hope I can continue to give my contributions because the experience and relationship we have within the African football, we will never allow it to go in vain. Whenever we need to give our contributions we will come here and give our contributions for the progress of the Nigerian people.”
Earlier in the day, the NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, also addressed members of the federation’s secretariat, where he announced his resignation.
Gusau’s resignation comes amid growing criticism of football administration in Nigeria, following recent setbacks suffered by the country’s national teams, particularly the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, who both failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Gusau, who was elected to lead the Nigerian football governing body at the 78th Elective Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation in September 2022, stepped down shortly before the end of his tenure.
The resignation could throw the NFF’s planned electoral process into uncertainty and potentially affect the September 27 elections for the federation’s board, which are scheduled to hold in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
