NFF Working Diligently To Ensure National Teams Attain Greater Heights – Gusau

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Tuesday disclosed that the football-governing body is working assiduously to ensure that all the National Teams perform much better in their competitions in the next one year, than they have done in the past year. He made this pledge while reviewing the activities of the NFF and the teams in one year of his Board in office, and also articulating expectations for the next one year. While highlighting the achievements of the past year, which included a first-ever podium finish at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, quarter-final performance of the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup, qualification of the Super Eagles to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and best-ever outing by the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Gusau asseverated that the Board and Secretariat have worked in tandem to remove toxicity from the system and enable a more conducive environment for the game in the country. “One of our priorities on coming into office was to ensure that the football environment was cleansed of so much toxicity that had threatened the health of the game and made some persons feel unwelcome in the system. We have tried our best to give everyone a sense of belonging with a policy of inclusiveness. “Off the pitch, we are proud of the work of the Interim Management Committee that we constituted to organize the last NPFL League Season, which was commended by all stakeholders, and we also feel fulfilled about the constitution of the Boards of the NNL, NWFL and NLO with vibrant, knowledgeable and competent individuals who are capable of taking the leagues to the next level. Elections into the State FAs have also been largely peaceful and successful.” Gusau said his board will work assiduously and diligently with the secretariat and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to see the Super Eagles off to a great start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series and to win the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire early next year. “We also want to see the Super Falcons reclaim their African title and return to the Women Olympic Football Tournament. Our expectations include making good progress in our plan for hostel accommodation and some playing pitches for the National Teams, through the FIFA Forward 3.0 program, and also see that the U17 and U20 Women National Teams achieve their best-ever outings at their different World Cups next year. “We are working already with the new NPFL Board to grow the NPFL into the product that all administrators and stakeholders desire, and also with the boards of the other Leagues to improve the state of our domestic football. To achieve all these, we need money, so we are also looking to work even harder to grow our revenue base through aggressive marketing drive.” The NFF boss said his team will also not allow any FIFA window for friendly matches to go unutilized. “As you can see, we have arranged two matches for the Super Eagles in this month’s window, against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. Mozambique is in southern Africa where three of our opponents in the World Cup qualifiers, namely Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa also are. Playing Mozambique is a good opportunity for the team to have a sneak preview of what to expect against these three teams.” Also at the parley were NFF Executive Committee Members H. E. Ali Silas Agara and Mr. George Aluo; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Chairman of Anambra State FA, Chikelue Iloenyosi; NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Director of Competitions, Ruth David and; Head of Member Associations, Ali Abubakar Muhammad. Abdulrahaman takes over from Adesanya as COO, Nigeria National League Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has deployed Dr. Ayo Hameed Abdulrahaman to the Nigeria National League as the chief operating officer, to take over from Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya who has retired from the Federal Civil Service after attaining the age of 60 years. Abdulrahaman, who holds a doctorate degree in physical and health education, has robust sphere and institutional experience in football organization and administration. He is a deputy director in the Federal Civil Service. Before his deployment, Dr. Abdulrahaman worked as deputy director in the NFF Competitions Department. He had also worked for many years previously as chief operating officer of the NNL, and also in the same capacity in the Nigeria Women Football League.

Agara, Aluo, Nkechi Obi head Leagues’ Boards

A former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Silas Agara has been appointed as Chairman of the Nigeria Nation-Wide League One, which has been reconstituted along with the boards of the Nigeria National League and the Nigeria Women Football League. Agara will have Mr. Adeoye Adepeju as his vice, with Mallam Sabo Muhammed Dutse, Mr. Ogheneochuko Ambakaderemo, Mr. Tunji Onatolu, Barr. Bucknor Akintade and Mallam Danladi Ibrahim as members. Mallam Hassan Abdullahi Garo will be the chief executive officer. Mr. George Aluo is the new Chairman of the Nigeria National League, with Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki as his vice. Mr. Yakubu Sarma, Mallam Sani Mohammed, Dr. Donald Ikpe, Chief Joseph Uzoma Ebowusim and Chief Dotun Sanusi will serve as members, while Mr Emmanuel Attah will be the chief executive officer. Renowned marketing expert Nkechi Nneka Obi will head the Nigeria Women Football League, with Hajiya Hussaina Suleman as vice chairman. Alhaja Rukayat Lola Alaya, former FIFA referee Hadiza Musa, Mr. Ayodele Thomas, Ms Henrietta Ehiobor and Mr. Danny Nazzal will be members. The boards will be inaugurated once the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau returns to the country from continental assignments in Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire.   AT A GLANCE: NIGERIA NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mr. George Aluo (Chairman); Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki (Vice Chairman); Mr. Yakubu Sarma (Member); Mallam Sani Mohammed (Member); Dr. Donald Ikpe (Member); Chief Joseph Uzoma Ebowusim (Member); Chief Dotun Sanusi (Member); Mr. Emmanuel Attah (CEO). NIGERIA NATION-WIDE LEAGUE ONE: Hon. Silas Agara (Chairman); Mr. Adeoye Adepeju (Vice Chairman); Mallam Sabo Mohammed Dutse (Member); Mr. Ogheneochuko Ambakaderemo (Member); Mr. Tunji Onatolu (Member); Barr. Bucknor Akintade (Member); Mallam Danladi Ibrahim (Member); Mallam Hassan Abdullahi Garo (CEO). NIGERIA WOMEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE:  Mrs Nkechi Nneka Obi (Chairman); Hajiya Hussaina Suleman (Vice Chairman); Alhaja Rukayat Lola Alaya (Member); FIFA Hadiza Musa (Member); Mr. Ayodele Thomas (Member); Ms Henrietta Ehiobor (Member); Mr. Danny Nazzal (Member)