Gusau Quits NFF Presidency After 3 Years, 11 Months, Defends Stewardship

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has resigned after three years and 11 months in office, bringing his tenure at the helm of Nigerian football to an end.

Gusau announced his resignation on Thursday during a World Press Conference at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, ending days of speculation over his future.

He said the decision followed consultations with his family, friends and key stakeholders in Nigerian football, adding that he had informed members of the NFF Executive Committee of his decision and advised them to consider their own positions.

Reflecting on his tenure, Gusau said he was leaving office satisfied that his administration had made measurable progress despite the challenges it faced.

“These three years and eleven months did not just come like that. At least we have something that we can tell Nigerians and the world that we have achieved for the little opportunity we had during this period,” he said.

Gusau highlighted the revival of coaching education as one of the major achievements of his administration. He said virtually all categories of coaching courses had been conducted, with the long-delayed CAF A Licence course scheduled to commence on September 16.

He also pointed to improved stability in the domestic leagues, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), saying his administration had restored greater certainty to the football calendar and made the competition more organised and competitive.

On refereeing, Gusau said Nigerian officials had regained prominence in continental competitions, citing the selection of Nigerian referees for semi-final matches at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

He further disclosed that the NFF’s facility project, initiated in March 2024, was progressing as scheduled, with one phase already completed and the entire project expected to be delivered by March next year.

Gusau Highlights Adidas Deal

The outgoing NFF president also disclosed details of a new kit sponsorship agreement with Adidas, which he described as the biggest such deal in African football.

According to Gusau, the agreement will provide the NFF with $4.5 million annually in cash and a further $4 million in kits, alongside a 20 per cent royalty on retail sales.

He explained that the deal followed unsuccessful negotiations with Nike for improved terms amid the sharp depreciation of the naira and rising costs of running Nigeria’s national teams.

Gusau said the previous Nike agreement provided $500,000 annually in cash and approximately $1 million worth of kits, but became increasingly inadequate as the naira weakened from about N400 to the dollar to around N1,400.

He said the new Adidas partnership would strengthen the NFF’s ability to engage quality coaches, maintain facilities and invest in youth development.

Gusau also disclosed that Adidas, which currently has 13 stores in Nigeria, plans to increase its presence to 32 stores within the next two years.

National Teams And Legacy

Reflecting on the national teams, Gusau cited the Super Eagles’ silver medal at the Africa Cup of Nations as one of the highlights of his administration.

He, however, acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, despite Nigeria’s longstanding record in the competition.

His resignation now leaves Nigerian football facing a fresh leadership transition, with attention expected to shift to the NFF’s statutory succession process and the future of the remaining members of the Executive Committee.

The development also comes at a critical period for the federation, with the next NFF elections already scheduled and the administration now required to navigate the transition following the departure of its president.