Nigeria: Pinnick Camp Tackles Ex-NFF President Gusau Over Huge Inherited Debt Claim

What the report says

A dispute over the Nigeria Football Federation’s finances has widened after a senior figure from the Amaju Pinnick-era leadership rejected claims that Ibrahim Gusau’s administration inherited large debts and used most of a federal intervention to clear them. The report, published by Leadership and carried by AllAfrica, says the exchange follows comments by National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko about federal funding to the NFF under the two administrations.

Dikko reportedly said the federation received about N15 billion during Pinnick’s eight years in office and a single N17 billion intervention under Gusau. He used the comparison to press for stronger financial controls and accountability in Nigerian football. In response, the Gusau camp argued that the later board inherited significant liabilities, including alleged unpaid salary arrears for former coach José Peseiro and other obligations to players, and said the naira comparison was misleading without considering exchange-rate changes.

A member of the former Pinnick-led board disputed that account, saying the NFF is a continuing institution and that debts remain the federation’s responsibility. The source also insisted that sponsorship money, including funds linked to Aiteo, had been intended to help cover obligations such as Peseiro’s salary. The remarks were made amid broader reform pressure around the NFF, with Gusau having resigned and other board changes under way.

The disagreement matters because it reflects deeper concerns about governance, record-keeping and financial transparency in Nigerian football, where past and present administrators are now trading blame over how public and sponsorship funds were used.