The crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has deepened following reports that its President, Ibrahim Gusau, and several board members have resigned.
The reported resignations come amid growing criticism over the management of Nigerian football and investigations by security agencies into the use of funds released to the federation.
The NFF is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) over the management of a N17 billion intervention fund provided by the Federal Government for the payment of players’ wages and bonuses.
The fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams.
A source told Vanguard that the DSS had begun examining documents relating to how the money released to the NFF was used.
The source dismissed reports of witch-hunting, saying it was normal for the DSS to examine documents connected to government funds.
According to the report, the NFF executive committee led by Gusau came under increasing pressure to resign.
Following the pressure, eight of the 13 members of the NFF board were reportedly said to have resigned from their positions.
The development has also been linked to Nigeria’s recent struggles in international football.
The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, while the Super Falcons suffered a historic setback after failing to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The defeat ended Nigeria’s title defence and denied the team automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons were subsequently left with a playoff route involving South Africa as they seek to secure a place at the tournament.
The reported resignations are expected to further increase pressure on the NFF leadership as investigations into the federation’s financial management continue.
