Nigeria's football leadership resigns amid governance concerns

What the report says

The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has resigned en masse, creating an immediate vacuum in the administration of the country’s game, BBC Sport Africa reported from Abuja. Outgoing president Ibrahim Gusau, the general secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the 11 other executive committee members stepped down, with Gusau saying he made the choice after consulting family, friends and stakeholders. His term was due to end in just over a month, and he had been expected to seek re-election.

The resignations come after months of pressure over results and governance. Nigeria’s men have missed the last two World Cups, while the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup ended the team’s run at every edition since the tournament began in 1991. The women were also knocked out in the quarter-finals of the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations before losing a World Cup play-off to South Africa. Nigeria’s senior men finished runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, but BBC said the broader picture has been one of decline across senior and age-grade teams.

BBC also reported that the federation has faced questions about financial management and internal conduct, including scrutiny over a naira intervention fund and a recent fact-finding report that raised concerns about board influence and player selection. The NFF has called an emergency congress in Abuja to decide next steps, and uncertainty now surrounds elections scheduled for September. Some observers are calling for major reforms, while others see the crisis as a chance to reset governance in Nigerian football.