The crisis rocking Nigerian football has deepened following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, alongside several members of the federation’s executive committee.

The development comes amid mounting pressure over the administration of Nigerian football and a fresh investigation into the utilisation of a N17 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government for the payment of players’ wages and bonuses.

Sources said eight of the 13 members of the NFF board have resigned their positions, further throwing the federation into uncertainty ahead of its scheduled September 27 elective congress in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The NFF leadership had faced growing criticism following a series of setbacks involving the country’s national teams, culminating in the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Falcons’ historic absence from the tournament followed their 2-1 defeat to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the Women’s World Cup qualification playoff. Nigeria had previously featured in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.

The development followed the team’s 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which ended Nigeria’s title defence and forced the team into the qualification playoff route.

DSS Probes N17bn Intervention Fund

The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly joined other security agencies in examining the utilisation of the N17 billion intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams.

A source familiar with the development said the DSS had requested relevant documentation from NFF officials to establish how the funds allocated to the federation were utilised.

“It is a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released to them,” the source said, dismissing suggestions that the exercise amounted to a witch-hunt.

The investigation comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over the management and financing of Nigeria’s national football teams, as well as what critics describe as a prolonged decline in the administration of the sport.

The Super Eagles have also failed to qualify for consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, adding to concerns over the direction of Nigerian football.

NFF Election Faces Uncertainty

The resignation of more than half of the NFF board could have implications for the federation’s planned September 27 elections in Lafia.

With eight of the 13 board members reportedly out of office, questions are now being raised over the composition of the body that will oversee the transition and whether the scheduled electoral process can proceed as planned.

The latest development is expected to intensify calls for accountability and reforms within the NFF as stakeholders seek clarity over the federation’s finances, administration and future direction.