Ibrahim Gusau resigns as NFF president after Super Falcons World Cup failure – report

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, president Ibrahim Gusau and members of the federation’s Executive Committee have resigned after weeks of pressure over the state of the country's football, Soccernet.ng understands.

Former Super Eagles media officer Obong Colin reports that Gusau and other board members stepped down on Thursday, 27 August. Earlier reports said eight of the 13 board members had already left their positions. Reports also linked NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi to the leadership shake-up, although the federation had not published an official resignation statement at the time of writing.

The development comes just days after reports of a 24-hour demand for the board to quit. The National Sports Commission later said the Federal Government had not ordered the NFF leadership to resign, while talks about a possible normalisation committee continued.

Gusau: NFF's World Cup failures and financial questions

Pressure grew sharply after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Nigeria had played at every Women’s World Cup since the first tournament in 1991.

The Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals before a 2-1 defeat by South Africa in the World Cup play-off ended their qualification hopes. The NFF sacked Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu shortly after that misadventure.

The Super Eagles had already missed the 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo on penalties in the African play-off. Nigeria’s youth teams also faced serious setbacks, with the Golden Eaglets missing the 2026 U-17 World Cup.

Financial questions added to the crisis. The EFCC and ICPC are investigating the use of a ₦12bn Federal Government intervention fund released in 2024 to settle unpaid wages, bonuses and allowances. The NFF said the relevant records are with the anti-graft agencies.

Gusau's administration can also point to achievements. Nigeria reached the 2023 AFCON final, the Super Falcons returned to the Olympics at Paris 2024 after a 16-year absence, and the NFF backed new training and accommodation facilities at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The NFF had also scheduled its next elective congress for 27 September in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The reported resignations could now change that process and determine how Nigerian football is run in the months ahead.