NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has stepped down from his role, officially ending his time in charge of Nigerian football’s governing body.

The announcement came during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, following weeks of intense scrutiny over the declining performance of the country’s national teams.

Reports had earlier indicated that Gusau, alongside several members of the NFF Executive Committee, was preparing to step aside from the federation’s leadership.

The resignation arrives at a difficult moment for Nigerian football, with the Super Eagles missing out on both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, and the Super Falcons recently failing to secure qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria’s junior teams have not been spared either the Golden Eaglets, despite holding a record five global titles, have now missed three straight U-17 World Cup qualifications.

The men’s Olympic side has also been unable to recapture the form that carried it to gold in Atlanta back in 1996.

These repeated disappointments had fuelled growing frustration among fans and football administrators alike, with many pushing for structural reform within the NFF.

Gusau’s exit coincides with an emergency NFF Congress session called specifically to address the unfolding crisis.

Discussions are expected to cover the state of the Executive Committee and Secretariat, questions around the federation’s governance and independence, and next steps in line with regulations set by FIFA and CAF.

With his departure now confirmed, attention turns to how the federation plans to stabilise its leadership structure and chart a new path for rebuilding Nigeria’s football fortunes across all levels.