NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been thrown into uncertainty following the resignation of its President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
The unexpected development, announced by the NFF on its official X account on Thursday, marks one of the biggest leadership shake-ups in the history of Nigerian football and comes amid reports of an ongoing security investigation involving top officials of the federation.
Although the football governing body confirmed the resignations, it did not disclose the reasons behind the decision or indicate whether the officials stepped down voluntarily.
The departure of Gusau, Sanusi and the Executive Committee effectively leaves the federation without its existing leadership structure, raising fresh questions about who will oversee its affairs and how the transition process will be managed ahead of the next board elections.
DSS, NIA Reportedly Investigating NFF Officials
The leadership changes come as security sources disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are investigating intelligence reports alleging that some senior NFF officials maintained contacts with certain foreign interests in ways considered capable of undermining Nigeria’s national security.
According to a security source familiar with the matter, the investigation extends beyond financial issues.
“It is true that President Bola Tinubu in 2024 approved N17 billion as a special intervention fund to help NFF clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams. However, that falls within the purview of the EFCC, not the DSS and NIA,” the source said.
The source further explained the roles of the security agencies.
“The mandate of the DSS is on dealing with domestic threats to national security. The NIA deals with external threats. So, when you hear that the DSS and NIA are jointly investigating a matter, it has got to be very serious, especially when the persons involved are saddled with the responsibility of managing an important body like the NFF.”
The allegations remain under investigation, and neither the DSS nor the NIA has publicly announced any findings. The NFF has also not issued an official response to the reported probe.
Pressure Mounts Over Football Performance
The federation has in recent months faced growing criticism from football supporters over the performance of Nigeria’s national teams and the administration of the sport.
Among the major concerns raised by critics are the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for consecutive FIFA World Cups and the Super Falcons’ unsuccessful bid to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after missing automatic qualification and subsequently falling short in the playoff stage.
While many fans have blamed the federation’s leadership for the setbacks, no official inquiry has concluded that the outgoing officials were directly responsible.
Questions Over September NFF Elections
A security source also claimed that the resignation of several Executive Committee members could be connected to concerns over the ongoing investigation.
“That at least half of the NFF Executive have or are contemplating resignation may not be unconnected with the fear of DSS and NIA probe, fuelling fears on the possibility of holding the NFF board election scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State,” the source alleged.
The claim has not been independently verified, and the NFF has yet to comment on whether the scheduled election will proceed as planned.
Mixed Reactions Trail Resignations
The announcement triggered widespread reactions on social media.
One X user, @Ojooladipupoo, questioned whether the resignations were voluntary, writing:
“Or forced to resign…?! I don’t believe a Nigerian will willingly resign from his/her position. It’s not in our DNA.”
Another user, @olubrafel, simply posted:
“As it should be.. Court!”
A third user, @AGEMO, criticised the outgoing leadership in a strongly worded post.
The comments reflect opinions expressed by individual social media users and should not be interpreted as evidence supporting any allegations against the former officials.
Uncertainty Over NFF’s Next Move
With the federation’s top leadership now out of office, attention has shifted to how the NFF will ensure continuity in its operations, including preparations for domestic competitions and Nigeria’s national teams.
The federation is expected to provide further clarification on interim leadership arrangements and the status of its forthcoming board elections in the coming days.
