NFF crisis, threat of FIFA ban and the future of Nigerian football

On August 27, Ibrahim Gusau resigned as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

It was a move nobody saw coming.

You see, people hardly step down from their roles in this part of the world.

Yes, the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup – the first time this has happened in history.

And the Super Eagles were absent in consecutive World Cups this year too.

But what usually follows such failures is a promise to go back to the drawing board. Or even silence.

“I think it has been unfortunate, but also eye-opening,” Wale Agbede, a renowned sports broadcaster, told DAILY POST.

“When you look at the record of that administration. You go back to the World Cup qualifiers for the Super Eagles, the issue that Alex Iwobi brought up comes to mind.

“They had been booked in a hotel that was quite noisy and team wasn’t able to have a good rest.

“To now find out that there were monies given to the NFF leadership, you hear talks of N17bn flying around. To learn that not every stone was left unturned to ensure that Nigeria was at the men’s World Cup, is quite unfortunate.

“And this is amid all the allegations of corruption and ineptitude.

“We can’t say it’s going to be a turning point in Nigerian football for sure.

“Because in the end, with the recent events, we can still see familiar faces. People who have been around the corridors of power are still the ones driving this conversation, especially with the trip to FIFA.

“But it does give off that feeling that maybe this is the drawing we always said we want to go back to. Hopefully, the drawing board is cleaned properly, before new handwritings are inscribed on it.

“The negative press surrounding the failure of Nigerian football across different strata under the Gusau administration was just too embarrassing.”

Gusau’s exit was quickly followed by murmurs about government interference. That he had been forced to step down.

Not long after Gusau’s announcement, President Bola Tinubu ordered “comprehensive reforms” for Nigerian football.

Earlier this week, reports claimed FIFA was not happy with how the events in the Glass House played out and could impose sanctions.

The NFF quickly debunked it. They insisted that FIFA had formally accepted the resignations of its former principal officers and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.

“I don’t think there has been government interference,” Agbede said.

“Even if there has been government interference, it has probably been verbal and not formal. So it’s not anything that could cause problems with FIFA.

“I think that the government has handled this very carefully. The president’s statement didn’t come until after all the resignations.

“But everything has gone through the National Sports Commission, NSC. And from recent events, we can see that they are carrying FIFA along.

“There is a clear transitional plan and in the context of how FIFA describes government interference which causes problems for countries, I think for the first time the Nigerian government managed it very well. They were very well advised, I’d assume.”

The chatter in football circles has been about who eventually replaces Gusau.

A lot of names including ex-footballers and sports administrators have been debated by fans and pundits.

“I can say for sure that a certain businessman who has ties with several Nigerian football clubs and has made heavy investments in the game, has been directly spoken to in terms of becoming the next NFF president, and he has soundly rejected the role as of today.

“And I add that caveat because in Nigeria, people can change their mind.

“I can tell you for free that he has been placed under a lot of pressure directly from Abuja to accept the role.

“He is being very careful in terms of making a decision.

“I know there are other names that have been bandied around. Some people have been clamouring for names like Michael Emenalo, formerly of Chelsea and who just left the Saudi Pro League.

“I find that very interesting. Because an appointment like Emenalo could signal an actual mind shift.

“My opinion is that there is still a mind shift problem and we still don’t see football as something that could add to Nigeria’s GDP. We don’t see it as business yet, which is the real problem around Nigerian football.

“I can’t say if Emenalo has been sounded. From my personal observation, I don’t think he would want to come to Nigeria and take this very political role.

“But in terms of who becomes the next NFF president, I struggle to pick out a name.”