Nine NFF Board Members Reportedly Set to Resign Amidst Poor Handling of Football

Mounting criticism over the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) poor administration has reportedly led nine members of its Executive Committee to signal their intention to resign. This move, if carried out, could pave the way for a Normalisation Committee to temporarily manage the country's football affairs.

Sources indicate that the 13-member NFF board, led by President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has met to consider resigning en masse. This decision comes ahead of the scheduled NFF elections on September 27. The proposed resignation is seen by some as a necessary step to implement a new governance structure and usher in a board that departs from the practices of the last two and a half decades.

The pressure for change intensified following the Super Falcons' failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, marking the first time since 1991 they would miss the tournament. This followed the Super Eagles' inability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, the country's U20 and U17 men's teams have also faltered in continental and global competitions.

While the NFF board dismissed the Super Falcons' coaching crew, stakeholders remain unimpressed, calling for a complete overhaul of the federation. Adding to the turmoil, Nigeria's anti-graft agencies, the EFCC and ICPC, have launched investigations into the NFF's finances, specifically examining the spending of N17 billion allocated for various football tournaments. Both President Gusau and the NFF General Secretary are reportedly among those considering resignation.

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During this period, we expect a new governance structure to be put in place to midwife a new board for the NFF. We expect also for the new board to be a departure from what Nigerians have been used to in the last two and half decades.