Nigerian Football
Half-time reflection of Gusau’s tenure at Nigeria Football Federation
On Monday, it will be two years since Ibrahim Gusau mounted the saddle of leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. By then, he would have hit the halfway mark of a four-year tenure. Views on football administration in the past two years and projections of the future are welcome.
Abimbola Olawale makes an independent analysis of the tenure of the 35th man to lead the 91-year-old football body which erroneously believes it was founded in 1945.
Ibrahim Musa Gusau’s administration of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) marks a significant chapter in Nigerian football history.
Upon his election as NFF president on 30 September 2022, Gusau inherited a federation rife with controversies, financial challenges, and underperformance in international competitions.
His leadership brought with it fresh perspectives, strategic thinking, and a people-oriented approach to governance. Over time, the positive impacts of his administration began to manifest, transforming various aspects of Nigerian football and the administrative structure of the NFF.
His two years in office is fostering development at the grassroots level to improve transparency, accountability, and the performance of Nigerian football teams on the global stage.
One of the cornerstones of his administration has been the prioritization of grassroots football development. He recognized that the future of Nigerian football depends on a robust foundation, which can only be achieved by nurturing young talents from an early age.
Gusau’s administration made deliberate efforts to revive and promote youth football across the country, ensuring that promising players receive the right training and exposure.
For the first time ever, Nigeria participated in the CAF secondary school football tournament for both boys and girls, they also collaborated with the Universal Secondary Education Board in order to discover these youths in the schools.
Through partnerships with state football associations, his administration created an enabling environment for the thriving of several youth leagues and academy programs at the local level.
This initiative has enabled thousands of young footballers to showcase their talents, with a structured pathway for advancement into the professional ranks.
The promotion of school football competitions at both primary and secondary levels has also been instrumental in identifying and nurturing young players.
These grassroots efforts have begun to pay off, with several young talents emerging and being scouted by local and international clubs.
Gusau’s administration facilitated better access to football scholarships and international trials for young Nigerian players, ensuring that the country’s football future remains bright.
He made it a priority to restore public confidence by introducing transparent financial management practices and auditing processes.
His administration established mechanisms to ensure that funds allocated to the NFF were properly utilized for their intended purposes, especially in football development and team support.
One of the key initiatives was the adoption of an open accounting system where financial transactions were made public, allowing stakeholders, including fans and media, to monitor how funds were being spent.
This move not only boosted confidence among sponsors and partners but also reduced corruption and mismanagement within the federation. Furthermore, Gusau’s administration implemented cost-saving measures, ensuring that funds were redirected to critical areas, such as player welfare, and training facilities.
With improved financial accountability, the NFF secured more corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and funding from international football bodies like FIFA and CAF.
These resources have significantly contributed to the federation’s activities, providing much-needed support for the various national teams
Under Gusau’s leadership, women’s football in Nigeria witnessed a significant resurgence. He has actively worked to elevate the status of women’s football, ensuring that female players receive the same attention, resources, and support as their male counterparts.
There is the revitalization of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) as Gusau’s administration, in collaboration with stakeholders introduced reforms that improved the organization and professionalism of the league.
These changes attracted effective media coverage of women’s football increased, giving female footballers more visibility and opportunities.
Gusau’s administration also ensured that the women’s national team, the Super Falcons, received adequate preparation for international competitions. In 2023, the Super Falcons delivered an outstanding performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the knock-out stages and cementing Nigeria’s place as a powerhouse in African and global women’s football.
The team’s success is a direct result of improved training facilities, better remuneration for players, and the hiring of experienced technical staff, all spearheaded by Gusau’s administration.
Another critical area where Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has made a significant impact is in player and coach welfare.
For years, Nigerian footballers had struggled with issues such as unpaid wages, inadequate accommodation, and substandard travel arrangements. These challenges had a demotivating effect on players, often resulting in subpar performances in international competitions.
Gusau tackled these issues head-on by prioritizing the welfare of players and technical staff. His administration ensured that players’ allowances, bonuses, and salaries were paid on time, eliminating the frequent protests that had plagued previous NFF administrations.
He also worked with the Nigerian government and private sponsors to improve accommodation, travel arrangements, and medical care for national team players and coaching staff.
Moreover, Gusau’s administration took steps to give incentives to players and coaches by introducing performance-based bonuses and awards. This move has motivated players to give their best in every game, resulting in improved performances from both the men’s and women’s national teams. Coaches have also benefited from these reforms, with many receiving specialized training courses and international exposure to stay updated with modern coaching techniques.
The improved infrastructure has not only enhanced the quality of football in Nigeria but also increased the country’s chances of hosting international tournaments.
One of the most visible areas where Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has made a positive impact is the performance of Nigeria’s national teams in international competitions.
When he took over as NFF president, Nigeria’s football teams had been struggling to perform at the highest levels, with disappointing results in tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup qualifiers.
Gusau’s leadership brought a renewed sense of focus and discipline to the national teams. He appointed experienced coaches and technical staff, ensuring that the teams were well-prepared for competitions.
Additionally, his administration worked to resolve internal conflicts within the teams, fostering unity and a winning mentality among the players.
As a result, Nigeria’s national teams have seen a resurgence in form. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s men’s national team, have improved their performances in AFCON qualifiers and friendly matches, regaining their status as one of Africa’s top football teams.
Similarly, the women’s national team, the Super Falcons, impressed at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as mentioned earlier, reaching the knock-out stages and earning praise for their determination and skill.
Gusau’s administration also focused on building strong relationships with international football governing bodies such as FIFA, CAF and other national football associations.
These partnerships have been instrumental in securing funding, technical assistance, and capacity-building opportunities for the NFF and Nigerian football as a whole.
One of the significant achievements in this area was Nigeria’s increased participation in FIFA and CAF programs, including those aimed at developing football infrastructure, women’s football, and youth football. Gusau’s administration ensured that Nigeria remained active in these global and continental initiatives, which brought various benefits, including access to international grants and expertise.
Additionally, Gusau’s administration played a key role in advocating for Nigerian referees and officials to be recognized and included in international tournaments. This has helped raise the profile of Nigerian football officials, with more of them being appointed to officiate at CAF and FIFA qualifying matches. They efforts are been intensified to ensure that they are at the FIFA World Cup and AFCON.
Corporate sponsorship has long been a challenge for the NFF, with inconsistent support from private sector partners in previous administrations. Gusau’s administration tackled this issue by fostering a business-friendly environment and engaging potential sponsors through strategic partnerships.
Through effective media engagement and public relations campaigns, the NFF under Gusau succeeded in attracting major corporate sponsors for the national teams and the domestic leagues. These sponsorships provided much-needed financial support for player development, team preparation, and general football administration. The partnerships have also extended to broadcasting rights, with more Nigerian football matches being televised, increasing the visibility and commercial appeal of the sport.
Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has undoubtedly made a lasting positive impact on the Nigerian Football Federation and the nation’s football landscape as a whole. His focus on grassroots development, transparency, player
Abimbola Olawale is a freelance journalist and a football stakeholder based in Abuja.
*Other views are welcome.
By Kunle Solaja
As the Nigeria Premier Football League celebrates 36 years of professional football, one troubling pattern continues to define the competition — the inability of most league top scorers to evolve into enduring stars of the Nigeria national football team.
In more than three decades of professional football, only one league top scorer can truly claim to have successfully crossed the bridge from domestic hero to established Super Eagles icon: Ahmed Musa.
The former Kano Pillars F.C. striker remains the outstanding exception in a league littered with what many observers now describe as “one-season wonders.”
Musa announced himself to Nigerian football in the 2009/2010 season when he scored 18 goals to emerge as the league’s leading scorer, breaking the long-standing 17-goal record set by Ishaya Jatau in the inaugural professional season of 1990.
Unlike many before and after him, Musa successfully translated domestic brilliance into international relevance.
He went on to become Nigeria’s fastest-ever scorer and remains the only Nigerian player to score two braces at the FIFA World Cup — against Argentina national football team in 2014 and Iceland national football team in 2018.
Yet Musa’s success only magnifies the larger mystery surrounding the Nigerian league: why have so many prolific scorers failed to reproduce their domestic form at the national team level?
The list is remarkably long.
The first professional league top scorer, Ishaya Jatau of Heartland F.C. — then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale — scored 17 goals in 1990 but managed only one goal in a handful of appearances for Nigeria.
Despite his reputation as a deadly finisher in the league, his wastefulness in national team colours reportedly left then-coach Clemens Westerhof unconvinced.
From there, a pattern emerged.
Players such as Olumide Harris, Ben Agadah, Paul Kpoughoul and Emmanuel Agbo dominated league scoring charts but disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived.
Others, including Peter Ijeh, Victor Ezeji and Joseph Akpala, briefly tasted national team football but never secured lasting places in the Super Eagles.
The problem has persisted across generations.
Even players who set impressive scoring records in recent years struggled to establish themselves internationally.
Mfon Udoh set a league record of 23 goals in the 2013/14 season for Enyimba F.C., while Junior Lokosa, Anthony Okpotu and Godwin Obaje all enjoyed prolific domestic campaigns.
Yet none became long-term Super Eagles regulars.
The contrast with Nigeria’s greatest striker, Rashidi Yekini, remains striking.
Yekini’s 37 international goals still stand untouched decades after his retirement.
Observers believe several factors may explain the recurring failure of league top scorers to mature into elite internationals.
One issue is consistency.
Many players explode for a single season before suffering dramatic drops in form. Some quickly leave Nigeria in search of opportunities abroad, often joining lower-profile leagues where their development stagnates.
Others struggle with the tactical and physical demands of international football, where defenders are stronger, spaces are tighter, and opportunities are fewer.
There is also the quality question.
Critics argue that the Nigerian league’s inconsistent standards sometimes inflate the reputations of local strikers, making domestic scoring records misleading indicators of international readiness.
In several seasons, top scorers emerged with relatively modest tallies. Arthur Moses won the golden boot in 1992 with just 10 goals, while Peter Anyiolobi topped the 1996 chart with only nine.
The instability of clubs and coaching systems has equally affected player development.
Unlike elite leagues where strikers are nurtured within structured tactical environments, many NPFL forwards operate in unstable teams with limited sports science support, inconsistent officiating and poor playing conditions.
Still, the league continues to produce raw attacking talent.
What remains missing is a system capable of transforming prolific domestic scorers into complete international forwards capable of sustaining excellence over many years.
As the NPFL clocks 36, the enduring question remains unanswered: why does Nigeria consistently produce league top scorers, yet so rarely produce strikers capable of dominating African and world football the way Yekini once did?
Top scorers who failed to make an impact in the Super Eagles
- 1990-Ishaya Jatau (Iwuanyanwu Nationale), 17 goals
- 1991-Richard Ojomo (Bendel United), 12 goals
- 1992-Arthur Moses (Super Stores), 10 goals
- 1993-Tony Nwigwe (Iwuanyanwu Nationale), 13 goals
- 1994-Olumide Harris (Shooting Stars), 14 goals
- 1995-Ben Agadah (Gombe United), 12 goals
- 1996-Peter Anyiolobi (Enyimba), 9 goals
- 1997-Paul Kpoughoul (Jasper United/BCC Lions), 16 goals
- 1998-Hassan Minda (Gombe United), 14goals
- 1999-Emmanuel Agbo (Iwuanyanwu Nationale), 14 goals
- 2000-Peter Ijeh (Julius Berger), 14 goals
- 2001-Uche Okereke (Enugu Rangers), 13 goals
- 2002-Joetex Frimpong (El-Kanemi), Victor Ezeji (Dolphins), 16 goals
- 2003-Chibuzor Ozurumba (Iwuanyanwu), Endurance Idahor (Julius Berger), 12 goals each
- 2004-Kabiru Alausa (Berger), 13 goals
- 2005-Timothy Anjembe (Lobi Stars), Joseph Akpala (Insurance), Charles Omokaro (Sharks), 12 goals each 2006 -Ibenebu Ikechukwu (El Kanemi), 10 goals
- 2007 – Ameh Aruwa (Kaduna United), 10 goals
- 2007/2008 – Abubakar Babale (Wikki Tourist/Sunshine Stars), 14 goals
- 2008/2009 – Akarandut Orok (Akwa United), 17 goals
- 2009/2010 – Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars), 18 goals. (The only one established in the Super Eagles)
- 2010/2011 – Jude Aneke (Kaduna United) 20 Goals
- 2011/2012 – Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes) 17 goals
- 2012/213 – Victor Namo (Nasarawa United) 18 goals
- 2013/2014 – Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) 23 goals
- 2014/2015 – Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves) 17 goals
- 2015/2016 – Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists) 18 goals
- 2016/2017 – Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) 19 goals
- 2017/2018 – Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars) 19
- 2018/2019 – Mfon Udoh (Akwa Utd) & Ibrahim Sunusi (Nasarawa Utd) 10 goals
- 2019/2020 – Cancelled owing to Covid-19
- 2020/21: Silas Nwankwo (Nasawara United) & Charles Atshimene (Akwa United) – 19 goals
- 2021/22: Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United) – 19 goals
- 2022/23: Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba) – 16 goals
- 2023/24: Chijioke Mbaoma (Enyimba) – 17 goals
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By Kunle Solaja
As the Nigeria Premier League marks 36 years since the advent of professional football in Nigeria, a familiar debate has resurfaced: just how good is the Nigerian league?
The answer depends largely on the yardsticks applied. In football, the quality of a domestic league is often measured not merely by local excitement, but by the strength of its clubs in continental competitions, the calibre of players it supplies to the national team, its commercial appeal and the emotional grip it holds on supporters.
Additionally, at least in Africa, the performance of the national teams at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) is solely for citizens who are nationals of the domestic leagues.
Possibly, too, the number of foreign players attracted to the league could also be a yardstick.
By those standards, the Nigerian league presents a paradox — rich in history and passion, yet struggling to keep pace with Africa’s elite competitions.
When professional football kicked off in Nigeria on May 12, 1990, expectations were enormous. The transition from amateurism was expected to modernise the game, improve club structures and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness internationally.
Instead, while professionalism brought organisation and structure, the domestic league gradually lost one of its greatest strengths: mass appeal.
Before professionalism, local football rivalries routinely packed stadiums across the country. Matches involving Shooting Stars SC, Enugu Rangers, Stationery Stores F.C. and Bendel Insurance F.C. attracted overflowing crowds and intense regional loyalty.
Today, many NPFL venues struggle to attract significant attendance, while European football — especially the Premier League — dominates television screens, conversations and sponsorship attention across Nigeria.
The contrast is stark.
While European clubs attract billion-dollar investments and global commercial partnerships, most Nigerian clubs remain heavily dependent on government funding, with limited private-sector participation.
The imbalance is also reflected in player development and national team representation.
Since the introduction of professional football, the overwhelming majority of players who shaped the fortunes of the Nigeria national football team have emerged from European leagues rather than the domestic competition.
Even competitions specifically designed for home-based players exposed the league’s limitations. Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), losing to the Ghana national football team in 2009 and to the Niger national football team in the qualifiers for the 2011 edition.
On the continental club scene, Nigeria’s achievements remain modest when compared to Africa’s leading leagues.
Enyimba F.C. remain the only Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League in the professional era, triumphing back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.
Since then, Nigerian clubs have struggled to make deep runs in continental competitions, while the CAF Confederation Cup has remained elusive.
The statistics reveal the gulf.
In the first 20 years of Nigeria’s professional league, Nigerian clubs won the CAF Champions League only twice. During the same period, Egyptian clubs claimed the title nine times.
Overall, clubs from Egypt have won Africa’s premier club competition 18 times in 59 editions, while Nigerian clubs have managed just two triumphs.
The dominance of North African leagues extends beyond the Champions League.
Egyptian clubs won the now-defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup eight times, compared to Nigeria’s three victories. Tunisian clubs dominated the CAF Cup with four titles in 12 editions, while Nigerian clubs managed two.
These performances are reflected in rankings by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), which has consistently rated the Egyptian league as Africa’s strongest, usually followed by Tunisia, with Nigeria often trailing behind.
Perhaps the clearest evidence of the disparity lies in national team composition.
At the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt’s 23-man squad included 19 home-based players, highlighting the strength and competitiveness of its domestic league.
Nigeria, by contrast, fielded an entirely foreign-based squad.
Indeed, only two players from the Nigerian league featured among the 368 footballers registered for the 2010 AFCON: goalkeeper Chitou Rachad of Wikki Tourists F.C. and Akinsola Boussari of Rangers, who was named in Togo’s squad before the country’s withdrawal.
The financial implications are equally significant.
Under FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme, clubs receive compensation for releasing players to the World Cup. Yet Nigerian clubs have barely profited because the country’s World Cup players are almost entirely based abroad.
Following the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, African clubs collectively earned about $4.57 million through the programme, with Moroccan giants Wydad AC receiving more than $1.4 million alone.
No Nigerian club came close.
Still, despite the criticisms, the Nigerian league retains enormous potential.
The country remains one of Africa’s richest reservoirs of football talent, while the emotional attachment many Nigerians still have to domestic football suggests the decline may not be irreversible.
What the NPFL lacks is not history or talent, but structure, commercial vision, stable administration and sustained investment.
Thirty-six years after professionalism arrived, the Nigerian league remains suspended between glorious memories and unrealised possibilities, a competition still searching for the consistency and quality required to reclaim its place among Africa’s elite.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Thirty-six years after professional football was introduced in Nigeria, the country’s top-flight league continues to grapple with many of the same structural problems critics warned about decades before the professional era began.
The Nigerian Professional Football League officially commenced on May 12, 1990, following nearly 40 years of debate over whether the country was prepared for the financial realities of professional sports.
When professionalism was first proposed in the 1950s, opponents questioned whether Nigerian clubs could survive the burden of player salaries, stadium maintenance and administrative costs.
Former football administrator Derby Allen warned in 1953 that most clubs lacked suitable stadiums and sustainable revenue streams to operate professionally.
More than seven decades later, many NPFL clubs are still heavily dependent on state government funding, while issues such as poor infrastructure, irregular player welfare, low commercial returns and weak marketing continue to limit the league’s growth.
Despite these challenges, the league has survived political transitions, administrative crises and financial instability to become one of Africa’s longest-running domestic competitions.
The league’s history has featured remarkable moments and strange twists.
Kwara United F.C. endured a 14-match losing streak in 2000, while Udoji United F.C. controversially emerged champions in 1996 following boardroom decisions.
Traditional giants have also suffered dramatic declines. Bendel Insurance F.C., one of the pioneer clubs of the 1972 National League, were relegated for the first time in 1995 and later spent a decade outside the top division after another relegation in 2008.
Defending champions Shooting Stars SC suffered relegation in 1999, becoming the first title holders to fall out of the top flight, while Bayelsa United F.C. repeated the unwanted feat in 2010 and has now suffered another drop.
Even continental giants, Enyimba F.C., once experienced relegation in 1991. Another relegation looms large at the end of this season.
Only Enugu Rangers have maintained an unbroken stay in the top division since the National League era began in 1972.
Administrative instability has equally shaped the NPFL’s story. In 2005, the league left direct NFA control with the establishment of the Nigeria Premier League. The League Management Company later emerged after a court ruling declared the NPL illegal in 2012/13.
Today, the Nigeria Premier Football League board oversees the competition, which continues to seek improved television coverage, sponsorship and stronger club structures.
As the league celebrates its 36th anniversary, many observers believe its future success will depend on finally resolving the same financial and organisational issues identified long before professionalism arrived in 1990.
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