Nigeria: Former FA Chairman Bako Demands Sack of Gusau-Led NFF Board
A former chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, Dr Danladi Bako, has publicly called for the dismissal of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), describing the board’s continued tenure as an “aberration,” according to a report carried by AllAfrica from This Day newspaper.
Bako’s remarks add to a long-running debate over the leadership of Africa’s most-followed football nation. The NFF is the governing body of football in Nigeria and oversees the country’s senior and youth national teams, including the Super Eagles, who are three-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations. The federation also manages Nigeria’s representation in continental and global competitions and oversees the domestic league structure.
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, a former president of the Zamfara State Football Association, was elected NFF president in 2022, succeeding the long-serving Amaju Pinnick. His tenure has unfolded amid the familiar challenges that have dogged the federation for years, including periodic disputes over board elections, tensions with state football associations and questions about the administration of the domestic professional league. Calls for reform at the Glass House, the NFF’s headquarters in Abuja, have become a recurring feature of Nigerian sports discourse.
Bako’s criticism, as reported by This Day via AllAfrica, frames the current board as a barrier rather than a steward of Nigerian football. Without disclosing direct remarks from Bako beyond his characterisation of the board’s stay in office, the report reflects frustration from former administrators who argue that decisive change is required if the country’s football fortunes are to improve.
The NFF has, in past cycles, faced interventions from the federal government and sporting tribunals over disputed elections and eligibility questions, underscoring the politically sensitive nature of the post. Whether Bako’s intervention will translate into formal action against the Gusau board remains to be seen.
Sources
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