Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau is set to face journalists in Abuja on Thursday as mounting uncertainty around the federation’s leadership and forthcoming election places Nigerian football under intense scrutiny.
Gusau’s media briefing, scheduled for 12 noon at the NFF headquarters inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, comes amid a series of reports concerning the September 27 elective congress in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
At the centre of the controversy are claims that the Federal Government may have intervened in the affairs of the federation, including reports that the scheduled election could be cancelled and replaced with a normalisation committee.
There have also been reports alleging that members of the NFF leadership were under pressure to resign. none of those claims has been officially confirmed by the NFF.
Gusau expected to address election uncertainty
The NFF had originally scheduled its elective congress for September 26 but moved it to September 27 after Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar was fixed for September 25.
The federation said the adjustment would allow candidates and other stakeholders attending the Super Eagles’ qualifier to participate in the congress.
However, the election timetable has since been overshadowed by reports of possible government intervention.
The National Sports Commission has remained publicly cautious over the claims, acknowledging consultations over challenges confronting Nigerian football but not confirming reports that the Federal Government had ordered the NFF leadership to step aside.
Gusau’s appearance therefore provides an opportunity for the NFF president to distinguish between confirmed developments and speculation.
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The reported resignation of members of the NFF Executive Committee is another issue likely to dominate Thursday’s briefing.
A THISDAY report claimed that as many as nine members had considered resigning en masse, although the development has not been independently confirmed by the NFF.
There have also been claims that Gusau himself had been asked to resign by government authorities, including suggestions involving the Presidency, the NSC and the Department of State Services.
Again, no official confirmation of such an order has been established. speculation about Gusau’s whereabouts and claims that he was avoiding possible arrest were also circulated.
Those reports suffered a blow on Wednesday when the NFF president appeared publicly in Abuja at the unveiling of the Nigeria Premier Football League’s new identity and its new commercial partnership with EuroMatch.
The event saw the NPFL announce a three-year, $7.5 million title sponsorship deal with EuroMatch, worth $2.5 million per season, with 60 per cent of the proceeds expected to go to participating clubs Gusau was among the football stakeholders present.
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding the federation, the published electoral timetable remains in place.
Candidate screening is scheduled for August 27–30, with the list of cleared candidates expected on August 31.
The final list is due to be published between September 11 and 12, while campaigning is scheduled to run from September 14 to 24.
The Elective Congress itself is scheduled for September 27 in Lafia. that makes Thursday’s briefing particularly important, with barely a month remaining before the election.
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A fact-finding committee recently submitted recommendations following Nigeria’s disappointing performances at major international competitions, including the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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