Normalisation In View? NSC Takes Control Of NFF, Suspends Congress

 

Normalisation In View? NSC Takes Control Of NFF, Suspends Congress

 

Following Thursday’s resignations of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi as General Secretary, and members of the Executive Committee, the National Sports Commission has endorsed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, until now Deputy General Secretary, to oversee the NFF Secretariat as interim General Secretary.

 

Dr Ademola Olajire, until now Director of Media and Communications, will serve as interim Deputy General Secretary.

 

All processes initiated in preparation for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for 27 September have also been suspended.

 

A fresh electoral process will commence following the completion of the anticipated comprehensive reforms, to be undertaken in consultation with world football’s governing body, FIFA, and CAF.

 

Furthermore, the Chairmen, appointed Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One have been directed to hand over the administration of their respective leagues to their Chief Operating Officers, who are members of staff of the NFF. Where the COO are not members of staff of the NFF, the Ag. General Secretary shall deploy a new COO from the Federation.

 

These interim measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian Football during the transition and pending conclusion of engagements with FIFA, CAF, Government and stakeholders to design a roadmap towards the comprehensive reforms envisaged for Nigeria football, and the next steps for activation.

 

These measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian football during the transition. Further changes and directives will be communicated in due course.

NFF Crisis: Gusau Resigns, Tells Board To Consider Their Positions

 

NFF Crisis: Gusau Resigns, Tells Board To Consider Their Positions

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has resigned from office after three years and eleven months at the helm of the country's football governing body.

Gusau announced his resignation Thursday while addressing a World Press Conference at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, ending days of speculation over his future. He said the decision to quit followed wide consultations with his family, friends and stakeholders in Nigerian football.

The outgoing NFF President disclosed that he had already communicated his decision to members of the Executive Committee and advised them to also consider their positions. He, however, said it was up to each member to decide whether to remain in office or follow his decision to step aside.

Speaking on his stewardship, Gusau said he was leaving the Federation satisfied that his administration had recorded measurable progress in several areas of Nigerian football. “These three years and eleven months did not just come like that. At least we have something that we can tell Nigerians and the world that we have achieved for the little opportunity we had during this period,” he said.

Gusau listed the revival of coaching education as one of the achievements of his administration, noting that virtually all categories of coaching courses had been conducted. He disclosed that the CAF A Licence course, which has not taken place in Nigeria for eight years, would commence on September 16, with all arrangements already concluded.

“The last one we are going to do is the CAF A Licence training, which has not been taking place for the past eight years, and that will commence on the 16th of September. Everything has been concluded about it,” he said.

He also pointed to the stability recorded in the domestic leagues, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), saying the administration had succeeded in restoring certainty to the football calendar. According to him, the days when league commencement and completion dates were uncertain and fixtures could be postponed without sufficient notice had largely been addressed.

“Before now, none of you as journalists could go anywhere and say this is when our league will start or this is when our league will end,” Gusau said. He added that the improvement in organisation had produced a more competitive league, with the title race in the last campaign remaining open until the closing stages of the season.

The outgoing President also cited improvements in refereeing, saying Nigerian officials were gradually returning to important assignments on the continent. He noted that Nigerian referees were selected to officiate semifinal matches at both the U17 Africa Cup of Nations and the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

On infrastructure, Gusau said the NFF facility project initiated in March 2024 was progressing according to schedule, with one phase already completed. He said the entire project was expected to be completed by March next year in accordance with the two year contract for its delivery.

Gusau also gave an insight into the financial challenges faced by the Federation, blaming the sharp depreciation of the naira for significantly reducing the real value of sponsorship agreements. He said the exchange rate had moved from about N400 to the dollar to approximately N1,400, while the cost of running the national teams and participating in international competitions continued to rise.

He cited the longstanding Nike sponsorship agreement, under which the NFF received $500,000 annually in cash and about $1 million worth of kits, saying the arrangement had become increasingly inadequate to meet the financial demands of Nigerian football. According to him, the Federation opened negotiations with Nike in 2024 for improved terms but both parties could not reach an acceptable agreement.

Gusau said Nike subsequently allowed the NFF to explore alternative sponsors while retaining the right to match any competing offer. He disclosed that Nike eventually declined to match the offer secured by the Federation, paving the way for the NFF to enter into a new agreement with Adidas.

The outgoing President disclosed that the Adidas agreement would earn the NFF $4.5 million annually in cash and another $4 million in kits, in addition to a 20 per cent royalty on retail sales. He described the agreement as the highest kit sponsorship deal in African football.

According to him, Adidas currently operates 13 stores in Nigeria and plans to increase the number to 32 within the next two years. He said the improved financial package would give the Federation greater capacity to engage top coaches for the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, maintain its facilities and invest in youth development.

Gusau said the agreement had already been signed and was originally scheduled to be formally unveiled in September, but decided to disclose it as part of the account of his stewardship before leaving office.

He also reflected on the performance of the national teams under his leadership, pointing to the Super Eagles' silver medal at the Africa Cup of Nations as one of the high points of his tenure. He acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the Super Falcons' failure to qualify for the Women's World Cup, despite the country's strong history in women's football.

Gusau's resignation is expected to trigger fresh developments within the NFF, particularly over who takes charge of the Federation and the positions of other members of the Executive Committee following his decision to step aside.

Attention will also turn to the relevant provisions of the NFF Statutes governing succession and the management of the Federation following the resignation of a sitting President, as Nigerian football enters another critical period in its administration.

Sports As Business Working: Sunday Dare Applauds $7.5m NPFL-Euromatch Partnership

 

Sports As Business Working: Sunday Dare Applauds $7.5m NPFL-Euromatch Partnership

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has secured a major commercial boost after unveiling Euromatch as its new title sponsor in a three-year partnership worth $7.5 million.

The agreement, unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of the 2026/27 season, is valued at $2.5 million annually and will see the competition renamed the EuroMatch NPFL.

NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, disclosed that 60 per cent of the annual sponsorship proceeds will go directly to the 20 participating clubs, with the arrangement designed to improve players’ wages and welfare.

“Let me announce to you that the deal is about $2.5m every season from EUROMATCH for three seasons. That is $7.5m,” Elegbeleye said.

“That will help in increasing players’ wages. Of course, we don’t give the money to the clubs ourselves, but 60 per cent goes straight to the clubs. That is the agreement. This must be reflected in the welfare of the footballers.”

The 60 per cent allocation amounts to $1.5 million annually for the clubs collectively, providing additional financial support for player welfare, club operations and preparations for the demands of top-flight football.

Elegbeleye stressed that the league’s commercial strategy was centred on players, insisting that footballers should be the major attractions of the NPFL rather than administrators.

“In football and in sport generally, the athletes and the players are the attractions, not the administrators. To be honest, there are players that we want to promote, not those of us who are the administrators.

“The fact is that it is not my business to be in the public eye here. The business is about the players. Nigerians should know them. It is not the business of an administrator to be showing his face everywhere. I can be there, but I should appear in the background.

“Let our players shine. Let the world know them. Let our league be known. Those of us behind the scenes, let our work reflect and let our work show,” he said.

The NPFL chairman added that improved earnings would be crucial to keeping players motivated and productive, while strengthening the overall quality of the domestic league.

Former Minister of Sports and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described the deal as evidence that Nigeria’s decision to treat sports as a business was beginning to attract significant investment.

“First, I think the NPFL must be commended for embracing change and reforms. I know the last three-plus years have not been easy for them, but they have kept at it,” he said.

“Also, especially the clubs, the management and ownership of the clubs, and the key stakeholders have keyed into that change. And this is what happens when you embrace change that is progressive: you attract investment.

“Seeing this come to life, $7.5m over the next three years is massive. But also, it speaks to the effort we made when we classified sports as a business.”

Dare said the sports-as-business policy was complemented by a 10-year football master plan aimed at developing Nigerian football, attracting foreign direct investment, improving branding and increasing the commercial appeal of the sport.

He also linked the reforms to Nigeria’s improved standing in African football, arguing that a stronger domestic league could have a positive impact on the national teams.

“I think that will also impact what we see in our national teams—the Super Eagles, the Under-20, Under-17 and others,” Dare said.

Dare further disclosed that government budgetary allocation for sports had increased from N1.9 billion to N76 billion, while stressing that increased public funding must be accompanied by reforms capable of meeting international standards.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, also described the agreement as a major boost for Nigerian football, saying it would strengthen the NPFL and create greater opportunities for clubs and players.

Gusau said the NFF would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the standard, visibility and commercial value of domestic football.

Group Chairman of Euromatch Group, Sadi Semih, said the company regarded the three-year agreement as a strategic investment in Nigerian football and expressed the group’s commitment to working with the NPFL and other stakeholders to deliver sustainable value and enhance the league’s international visibility.

The partnership comes as the NPFL prepares for the 2026/27 season amid ongoing efforts to improve club finances, player welfare, broadcasting, branding and the overall commercial value of domestic football.

The 2026/27 NPFL champions are also expected to receive a record N1 billion prize, according to the National Sports Commission, further underlining the growing financial ambitions surrounding the league.

Former Super Eagles stars Daniel Amokachi, Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen and Brown Ideye were among dignitaries who attended the unveiling of the new partnership.

The Euromatch deal is expected to play a significant role in shaping the next phase of the NPFL, with stakeholders hoping the increased commercial investment will translate into stronger clubs, better player welfare, improved matchday experiences and a more competitive domestic league.

U20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets Begin Camp In Trzebnica, Target First Global Title

 

FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets settle down, step up preparations in Trzebnica

Nigeria’s U20 Women’s National Team, the Falconets, have settled into their training camp in Trzebnica, Poland and wasted no time in stepping up preparations for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

The two-time FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup silver-medallists commenced training on Wednesday at the Stadion Miejski, Fair Play Arena, with the technical crew and players displaying zeal, intensity and dedication from the outset.

Following their arrival in Poland on Tuesday, the Falconets immediately resumed their training programme, focusing on tactical organisation, technical execution, physical conditioning and team cohesion as they continue to build towards the championship.

As part of their final preparations, the Falconets will play two international friendly matches against Poland on 28th August and South Korea on 1st September. The matches will provide valuable opportunities for the players to acclimatise further to the conditions in Poland, test themselves against different styles of play, sharpen their tactical understanding and gain experience against quality opposition on the world stage.

The friendly game against the host nation on Friday will take place at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg, and commence at 12noon local time. The clash with the Koreans is scheduled for the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium, and will kick off at 4pm local time.

The friendly fixtures will also enable the technical crew to assess the team’s progress and make necessary adjustments ahead of the World Cup, while helping the players adapt to the pace, intensity and demands of international competition.

The duo of captain Joy Igbokwe and defender Faridat Abdulwahab, who were eventually not granted visas, have been replaced by Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi.

Head Coach Moses Aduku and his technical crew have continued to demand maximum commitment from the players as the team fine-tunes its approach ahead of the tournament.

Nigeria will compete in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia, with the Falconets set to face Spain on 7th September, China PR on 10th September and New Caledonia on 13th September.

The team will continue its training programme in Trzebnica in the coming days, with preparations intensifying as the players work towards making a strong statement at the global championship.

Nigeria, runners-up at the 2010 and 2014 editions, will be aiming to go a step further in Poland and secure the country’s first-ever FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup title.

NUJ Condemns Ikire Killings, Tasks New Osun CP On Security

 

NUJ Condemns Ikire Killings, Tasks New Osun CP On Security

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, has condemned the killing of two persons around the Naira and Kobo Motor Park in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

The Council also condemned the reported attack on a police patrol team that responded to a distress call during the incident, which left two police officers injured and a patrol vehicle destroyed.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, and Secretary, Comrade Olalekan Akindoju, the NUJ described the incident as a serious threat to public safety and peaceful coexistence in the state.

The Council called on the Osun State Police Command to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that all those responsible for the killings, attack on police officers and destruction of government property are arrested and prosecuted.

The NUJ also urged residents and community leaders in Ikire to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist in identifying those behind the violence.

The Council used the opportunity to welcome the new Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Zungura, and urged him to prioritise intelligence-led policing, community policing and rapid response to distress calls.

It also called on the new police leadership to tackle cultism, thuggery and organised violence, while ensuring that attacks on police personnel are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

The NUJ further urged the police command to uphold professionalism, human rights and accountability in its operations, while building public confidence through regular engagement and transparent communication.

The Council urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while calling on security agencies to act swiftly and decisively against individuals and groups threatening the peace of the state.

The NUJ commiserated with the families of those killed in the Ikire violence and wished the injured police officers a speedy recovery.