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President Bola Tinubu has ordered a complete overhaul of the nation’s football structure in the wake of the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau alongside other federation leaders.
Revealed in a Thursday statement released by Bayo Onanuga, who serves as the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the directive arrived on a day marked by massive leadership changes within Nigerian sports.
Gusau formally announced his departure during an Abuja media briefing, shortly before the NFF confirmed that General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the entire Executive Committee had stepped down as well.
President Tinubu stated that the mandated restructuring is designed to fix chronic vulnerabilities plaguing the management and growth of the sport. “
The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he noted.
Furthermore, the President instructed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to collaborate closely with the NFF Secretariat and key football stakeholders to guarantee administrative continuity while carrying out a wide-ranging, inclusive reform initiative.
The framework will also involve active consultations with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football to keep Nigeria aligned with global regulatory guidelines.
According to Mr. Tinubu, football has failed to match the impressive advancements seen in other sporting disciplines following the revamp executed by the reinstated National Sports Commission.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” the President explained.
This intervention comes on the heels of a turbulent stretch for Nigerian football marked by major international disappointments, including the Super Eagles missing out on both the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, followed by the Super Falcons failing to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in history.
Gusau, who assumed office on September 30, 2022, after succeeding Amaju Pinnick, had just 34 days left on his four-year term before stepping down.
President Tinubu’s new directive focuses heavily on strengthening governance, stakeholder inclusion, domestic league structures, and financial accountability.
With the NFF elective congress previously slated for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the reform mandate casts new uncertainty over the upcoming electoral timetable while urging citizens and stakeholders to rally behind a cleaner, more reliable football administration.
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