Gusau faces calls to quit after critics condemn NFF first term

Ibrahim Gusau’s first term as president of the Nigeria Football Federation has come under renewed criticism, with football stakeholders arguing that he should not continue after the next election. The central complaint is non-performance across Nigeria’s national teams, domestic leagues and football administration.

Supporters of Gusau point to coaching education, referee reforms, infrastructure work funded through FIFA Forward and efforts to improve domestic competitions. They also credit his administration with creating more opportunities for women’s football and organising CAF coaching licence courses in different grades.

Those claims have been challenged by critics who say the coaching programmes have not produced a visible improvement in the national teams or clubs. They also question the condition of the Nigeria Professional Football League, which remains without a sponsor and is not being shown on television. In their view, those problems weaken the argument that domestic league administration has improved.

Refereeing is another area under scrutiny. Nigeria once produced highly regarded FIFA officials such as Festus Okubule, Linus Mba and Callistus Chukwujekwu. Okubule became the first Nigerian referee to handle a FIFA tournament when he officiated at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico and later took charge of important Africa Cup of Nations matches, including games at the 1986 edition in Egypt.

Critics now ask what practical benefits Gusau’s referee reforms have delivered, noting that no Nigerian official is currently receiving invitations for CAF or FIFA competitions. Omar Artan of Somalia recently became the first non-European referee to handle the Super Cup final, highlighting the contrast with Nigeria’s former standing. Artan had also been denied entry to the United States while due to officiate at the 2026 World Cup.

The criticism of Gusau is being compared with pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Infantino has overseen an expanded World Cup and higher payments for participating teams, but has faced opposition over his relationship with United States president Donald Trump and a proposal to commercialise World Cup interests through FIFA Forward Enterprise without first consulting the FIFA Council or Congress. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has defended Infantino’s right to remain in office until the election, a position critics say should not prevent Nigerians from judging Gusau’s record on its performance.