The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau,In a press conference held on Tuesday, unveiled the ambitious goals of the football-governing body for the upcoming year. The NFF's primary objectives are centered on the Super Eagles clinching victory at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire and the Super Falcons reclaiming the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, which they lost in Morocco.
Gusau emphasized the collective effort involved in achieving these goals, stating, "All hands are on deck to ensure that all the National Teams perform much better in their respective competitions in the next one year." He made this commitment while conducting a comprehensive review of the NFF's activities and the performance of its teams during his Board's tenure.
Highlighting the achievements of the past year, Gusau pointed to significant milestones such as the first-ever podium finish by the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup team, the quarter-final performance 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 outstanding performance by the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Moreover, Gusau underscored the NFF's commitment to purging toxicity from the football ecosystem in Nigeria. He stated, "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."
Gusau also commended the Interim Management Committee for its successful organization of the last NPFL League Season and the appointment of capable individuals to lead the NNL, NWFL, and NLO boards. He expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and successful elections into the State Football Associations.
Looking ahead, Gusau affirmed the NFF's dedication to supporting the Super Eagles in their quest for success in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series and the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. Additionally, he expressed the desire to see the Super Falcons reclaim their African title and qualify for the Women Olympic Football Tournament. Plans for hostel accommodation and improved playing pitches for National Teams were also discussed as part of the FIFA Forward 3.0 program.
Gusau stressed the importance of revenue generation through aggressive marketing efforts to fund these initiatives. He also highlighted the NFF's commitment to utilizing FIFA windows for friendly matches, with upcoming fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique providing valuable preparation for the Super Eagles ahead of World Cup qualifiers.
The press conference was attended by prominent NFF Executive Committee Members, including H.E. Ali Silas Agara and Mr. George Aluo, as well as key officials such as Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, Chikelue Iloenyosi, Ademola Olajire, Ruth David, and Ali Abubakar Muhammad, demonstrating the unity and shared vision within the NFF leadership.
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