Tinubu Orders Comprehensive Reform of Nigerian Football After NFF Leadership Resigns

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following a string of disappointing results and failures by the country’s national teams to qualify for major international competitions.

The directive came on Thursday, shortly after Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned amid growing concerns over the state of the country’s football administration.

The NFF confirmed the resignations, saying Gusau’s decision was aimed at creating room for what it described as a “comprehensive and orderly reform process” to tackle long-standing problems affecting governance, administration and football development in Nigeria.

Tinubu’s directive was announced by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The President said the reform was necessary to reverse Nigeria’s repeated failure to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.

The President blamed the decline partly on what he called “structural weaknesses” within the football system. He pointed to progress recorded in other sports following the restructuring of the sector under the re-established National Sports Commission as an indication that similar reforms could improve football.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” Tinubu said.

He added that football remains Nigeria’s most popular sport and has received significant public support, investment and national attention, yet continues to struggle because of structural problems within the system. The latest directive is therefore expected to trigger wider changes in the administration and development of Nigerian football.