Ernest Osogbue.
As you read this, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, is either somewhere in Zamfara State, in his ancestral home, or is still somewhere in Abuja, licking his wounds, having been out maneuvered by the powers that be, and pushed out of office as president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Nff.
Gusau did not leave office alone, but was made to exit with his entire board and the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi. It brought a gentle end to an episode which had the potential to bring Nigerian football into disrepute. With the Nff elective congress already scheduled for Lafia in Nasarawa State, for 27th of September this year, the National Sports Commission NSC, which was uncomfortable with Gusau’s handling of Nigerian football, had been jittery as to how to go about thwarting the elections, and usurping Gusau’s second term agenda, without offending Fifa. This was primarily due to the poor performance of Gusau, and the challenges facing the administration of the game, with major stakeholders completely shut out of having a say in football matters.
For decades, different Nigerian governments have been at a loss, as to how to manage Nigerian football. In 1992, the Babangida administration boldly came up with the infamous decree 101, which made the Nigeria Football Association, Nfa, an agency of government. As much as stakeholders were uncomfortable with the decree, very little could be done to shake it off, when government was solely responsible for funding the game. It was in 2004 that Fifa, by a combination of aggression, coercion and persuasion, muscled the Nigerian government into expunging the infamous decree. This culminated in a January 5th, 2005, executive fiat, at the federal executive council, expunging the much maligned decree 101. Since then, however, no specific legislation has been put in place for the administration of Nigerian football, thereby leaving a gaping hole that is yet to be filled.
As a result of the above, the erstwhile NFA, became known as the Nff, with federation replacing association in the management of Nigerian football. Despite this cosmetic change however, many issues still remained unresolved, with the Nff president now assuming executive powers, and owing allegiance more to Fifa, than to the Nigerian government. While the government continued to fund football, it discovered that it could no longer make decisions on football matters without Fifa breathing down its neck and wielding the big stick, by banning or suspending the country. On two occasions in 2010 and 2014, under President Jonathan, when government, through the ministry of sports, made efforts to reform the game, Fifa quickly stepped in to ban Nigeria.
The reactions of football crazy Nigerians to those suspensions, have made subsequent Nigerian governments wary of interfering with football management, thereby making the Nff president seem untouchable. That is, until now. With the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2022 Fifa world cup, followed by the subsequent failure to qualify in 2026, the government became uncomfortable with Ibrahim Gusau. Across the underage teams as well, Gusau equally failed to post any meaningful results, with the teams floundering in an area where Nigeria had usually excelled.
Despite these shortcomings, Gusau was set to secure another term in office, and confidently scheduled an elective congress, where an endorsement, rather than an election would have taken place. This exposed the inability of the Nff statutes to reflect the will of the people, and showing it as being a tool for self perpetuation in office. For government and most stakeholders, that election must never hold, and must be thwarted at all costs. But how to do that without incurring the wrath of Fifa, became the issue.
Providence offered Nigeria two opportunities, first was the Super Falcons failure to snag a world cup ticket, which completely exposed Gusau’s incompetence to both Fifa and Caf. They were disappointed at Nigeria’s absence at the 2022 and 2026 world cups, and here was Gusau equally failing with the usually dominant Super Falcons. It was a failure too many, and as a result, Fifa and Caf, were already prepared to help Nigeria anyway they could. Secondly, Fifa president Gianni Infantino, is currently fighting for survival, and needs friends now, more than enemies. A promise of Nigerian support, and further influence within Caf, was therefore, enough to persuade Infantino to pipe low.
In all of these, Amaju Pinnick, the immediate past Nff president, who currently operates in cahoots with Fifa and Caf, was the lynchpin, as Nigeria convinced Infantino of her unalloyed support, as long as Gusau could be sacrificed without interference. The government equally dusted up old reports of misappropriation of funds compiled by the Efcc, and other agencies, to buttress a complete breakdown of Nigerian football administration under Gusau.
With Shehu Dikko, Bukola Olopade, and Amaju Pinnick, working in concert, Ibrahim Gusau never stood a snowball’s chance in hell of surviving. And so, on Wednesday 27th August 2026, after making efforts to reach Fifa and Caf, and discovering that those doors were already shut against him, and his General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, Gusau along with his entire board, tamely surrendered. Fifa and Caf exchanged a conspiratorial wink with Nigeria, and watched as their men were booted out without lifting a finger to help.
This was indeed a coup of immense proportions, and for the first time in Nigerian football history, a clear opening has been created for a comprehensive overhaul of an obnoxious administrative system. This is a system that had shut out legends like Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, the late Stephen Keshi, Nwankwo Kanu, Segun Odegbami, the late Christian Chukwu, Alloy Atuegbu, Adokie Amiesimaka, Femi Ajilore, Samson Siasia, and many others, leaving them as mere spectators, or at best fringe players in their own affairs. With geopolitical interests, and ethno-religious considerations always preventing Nigeria from attaining greater heights, it remains to be seen how this glorious opportunity would be utilized. For now, three power brokers have emerged in Nigerian football; the NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, his Director General, Bukola Olopade, and former Nff president, Amaju Pinnick. Hate Pinnick or love him, the fact remains, that he utilized his tenure as Nff president to elevate his profile in African and world football. Today, he is firmly entrenched in Fifa and Caf. Any reform of Nigerian football, therefore, would necessarily have his blessings, or at least his input.
In an exclusive interview earlier in the year, Bukola Olopade had informed me, that the reform of Nigerian sports, must necessarily begin with football, as it is Nigeria’s number one sport, so that other sports can take a cue. This means that other unproductive sit-tight federation presidents, should be jittery, as the NSC would soon be coming after them. It equally proves that everything was prearranged, and that Gusau only became a victim, by springing a trap already set in motion. For now, however, the question remains; how far are Dikko and Olopade prepared to go in reforming Nigerian football? The Nff statutes remains obsolete, and without a specific law governing Nigerian football, more challenges could arise. Previous attempts to legislate Nigerian football, had stalled. Can the Tinubu administration succeed where others failed?
These questions and more will receive answers in the weeks, months, and possibly years to come. For now, however, the jostlings have begun, as to the constitution of an interim management, to administer, and conduct an election for the Nff. Who is best suited to head the team, on behalf of the NSC, remains a dilemma. Will the three juggernauts Dikko, Olopade, and Pinnick, be able to arrive at a consensus candidate, or would their relationship be tested? As chairman of the NSC, Dikko holds the aces, would he use it wisely or use it arbitrarily? The answer to that question is up in the air. In any case, what Nigerians desire the most is football that wins, and qualifies for all international competitions. There is a general belief that Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of talents, and is only being hindered by poor management. We keep our fingers crossed, in the belief that Dikko, Olopade, and their collaborator, Pinnick, would get it right, as the ball remains squarely in their court. We watch to see which way they kick it.
