Nigeria Football Federation President Resigns Amid Corruption Allegations

Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), resigned on Thursday amid corruption allegations and disappointing results from the national teams. His resignation comes one month before the federation's next general election. Several board members also resigned, according to local media reports. Gusau stated, "I decided to resign from my position as the president of NFF," and advised other board members to resign as well. The NFF is reportedly under investigation by the Department of State Services for the alleged misuse of 17 billion naira (approximately $12.7 million) allocated by the government in 2024 to settle outstanding payments owed to national team players and officials. Following Gusau's resignation, President Bola Tinubu's office announced that he has ordered a "comprehensive reform" of the country's football administration to address structural deficits. Tinubu emphasized the need for improved governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions, and accountability in Nigerian football. Nigeria has faced ongoing allegations of corruption and mismanagement within its football governing body. National team players and coaches have publicly protested over unpaid allowances. The recent controversy follows the Super Falcons' failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, marking the first time since the tournament's inception in 1991 that Nigeria will miss the event. The men's national team, the Super Eagles, has also failed to qualify for the last two World Cup tournaments. Despite his resignation, Gusau defended his record, attributing the federation's financial issues to the country's economic challenges and foreign exchange volatility. He also announced a partnership with Adidas that will provide Nigeria with $4.5 million in annual cash payments.