The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has declared the organization’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the performance of all national teams in the upcoming year.
This pledge follows a comprehensive review of the NFF’s activities and the teams’ achievements during one year under his leadership, coupled with an ambitious outlook for the year ahead.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of the past year, which included notable milestones such as the first-ever podium finish by the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup team, the quarter-final feat of the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup, the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and the exceptional performance of the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Gusau underscored the collaborative efforts of the NFF Board and Secretariat in fostering a more favorable environment for Nigerian football.
“One of our foremost priorities upon assuming office was to cleanse the football ecosystem of the toxicity that had been detrimental to the sport’s well-being and had made some individuals feel excluded from the system. We have diligently worked towards ensuring that everyone feels included through our policy of inclusiveness.”
Gusau expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved off the field, particularly commending the work of the Interim Management Committee in organizing the last NPFL League season.
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He also highlighted the constitution of boards for the NNL, NWFL, and NLO, comprising competent individuals poised to elevate the leagues to greater heights. Furthermore, he acknowledged the peaceful and successful elections held for the State Football Associations.
The NFF President revealed that his board would collaborate closely with the Secretariat and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to facilitate a strong start for the Super Eagles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and to clinch victory in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Cote d’Ivoire in the early months of the next year.
“We are equally determined to witness the Super Falcons reclaim their African title and secure a place in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Our objectives encompass making substantial progress in our plans for hostel accommodations and playing pitches for the national teams through the FIFA Forward 3.0 program. Additionally, we aim to witness the U17 and U20 Women National Teams achieving their best-ever performances at their respective World Cups in the upcoming year.”
Ibrahim Gusau emphasized the collaborative efforts with the new NPFL Board to enhance the league’s stature and improve the state of domestic football in Nigeria. He acknowledged the importance of revenue generation through aggressive marketing initiatives to fuel these ambitious plans.
The NFF President underscored their determination to make full use of FIFA windows for friendly matches, citing the arrangement of two forthcoming matches for the Super Eagles against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in the current month.
Gusau highlighted Mozambique’s significance as an opponent, offering valuable insights ahead of encounters with Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers.
