Ibrahim Gusau resigns: 5 key moments that led to NFF president’s reported exit

Nigeria’s football crisis reached a new point on Thursday as the Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau and other members of the Executive Committee have resigned, Afrik-Foot reports.

Gusau and other board members stepped down after weeks of pressure. The NFF boss called a press conference to formally announce his departure from the football body, following the footsteps of NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, who earlier confirmed his resignation.

Here are five moments that pushed the crisis to this point.

Super Eagles miss the 2026 World Cup

The first major blow came on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco. Nigeria needed to beat DR Congo in the CAF play-off final to keep its World Cup hopes alive. Frank Onyeka scored after only three minutes, but Meschack Elia equalised in the 32nd minute.

The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes. DR Congo then won 4-3 on penalties. Chancel Mbemba scored the winning kick after Timothy Fayulu saved from Semi Ajayi. The result meant Nigeria missed the World Cup for a second straight edition.

Super Falcons lose their World Cup route

The crisis became much worse in August 2026. Nigeria entered the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as the defending champion and a record 10-time winner. The Super Falcons had also played at every Women’s World Cup since the first edition in 1991.

Then came a 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Cameroon on August 9, with Myriam Wamen scoring in the 19th minute. The Super Falcons lost the chance to qualify automatically for the 2027 World Cup through the semi-finals.

Four days later, South Africa beat Nigeria 2-1 in Casablanca. Thembi Kgatlana scored in the 56th minute and Refiloe Jane made it 2-0 in the 76th. Christy Ucheibe scored a late penalty, but Nigeria could not force a comeback. That ended Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes.

The NFF election crisis explodes

The pressure then moved from the pitch to the boardroom. The NFF had planned its elective congress for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Gusau was seeking another term.

On August 17, reports said the National Sports Commission had cancelled the election and was considering a normalisation committee to run Nigerian football during a reorganisation. The move placed Gusau’s planned second term in serious doubt.

The NSC later said the Federal Government had not ordered the NFF leadership to resign. It said discussions were still taking place about how to reform Nigerian football.

Questions over the ₦12bn intervention fund

Financial questions added another layer to the crisis. The EFCC and ICPC began investigating the use of a ₦12 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the NFF for outstanding wages, bonuses and allowances.

In an August 18 letter responding to a Freedom of Information request, the NFF said the financial records were already with the two anti-corruption agencies because of the investigations. Some officials linked to the matter had also been invited to provide statements, according to reports.

The investigation placed extra pressure on an administration already facing criticism over national-team results.

The fact-finding plan turns into another crisis

On August 17, Gusau inaugurated a fact-finding committee to investigate Nigeria’s recent national-team failures. The NFF gave the committee two weeks to identify the causes and submit its report. Former Super Eagles coach Fanny Amun chaired the group.

But the process soon became another source of tension. Amun later said Gusau did not honour an invitation from the committee. On August 26, reports also said Amun had resigned as chairman.

It is yet unclear who will take charge of the NFF until a new president is elected.