Sports

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau Reflects on Achievements and Plans for Nigerian Football

Published

3 weeks ago

September 30, 2024

NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigerian football, assuring the public of concerted efforts to push the sport forward. Celebrating his second year in office on Monday, Gusau highlighted several significant achievements under his administration since his election in 2022.

One of the major successes, according to Gusau, is the stability within Nigerian football, which has contributed to the improved performance of both the men’s and women’s national teams on the international stage. He noted the Super Eagles’ close call at the 2024 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where they narrowly missed clinching the title.

“We have seen remarkable progress in women’s football, particularly with the Super Falcons reaching the knockout stages of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup without a single defeat in regulation time,” Gusau stated. “This is a reflection of the enhanced preparation and support from our administration. The Super Falcons performed admirably and were among the top 12 teams at the 2024 Olympics, showcasing their strength. Our investment in their preparation was key to this success.”

He added that Nigeria’s junior women’s teams, the Falconets and the Flamingos, continue to dominate at the continental level and rank among the best globally. “We are committed to supporting these teams because they represent the future of Nigerian women’s football and serve as a talent pool for the Super Falcons,” Gusau said.

Gusau also emphasized his administration’s focus on promoting women’s football, particularly through the revitalization of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), which has increased the visibility and success of the sport nationwide.

In addition to women’s football, Gusau highlighted the efforts being made to ensure credible seasons for all Nigerian leagues, including the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the Nigerian National League (NNL), the Nationwide League, and the Nigerian Women’s League. “We are collaborating with various stakeholders to improve different aspects of the game. Our strong relationships with FIFA and CAF have also secured additional technical support for Nigerian football,” he said.

The NFF President reiterated his commitment to transparency, stating that it is essential to boosting corporate sponsorships and addressing long-standing funding challenges faced by the federation. He also introduced performance-based bonuses for players and coaches, a move that has motivated higher performance levels across Nigerian football.

Looking ahead, Gusau outlined his goals for the next two years, stating that the focus will be on ensuring Nigeria qualifies for all major tournaments and brings home laurels. “Our goal is clear: we want to see Nigeria’s flag flying high in every competition we enter,” he concluded.

Before becoming NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau served as the chairman of the Zamfara Football Association, a committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and a member of the CAF Youth Organizing Committee. An accountant by profession, he was elected as the 40th president of the NFF at the 78th Elective Congress in Benin City, Edo State, on September 30, 2022, succeeding Amaju Pinnick.

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Sports

Gusau Praises President Tinubu, ValueJet crew for diligence and endurance

Published

3 days ago

October 15, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Tuesday expressed the deep appreciation of the NFF and the Nigeria Football family for the warm words of encouragement from the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR following the Super Eagles’ return from a better-forgotten Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match adventure in Libya.

On Monday, Mr. President put out a statement warmly welcoming the team back to home, and asking for prompt justice from the Confederation of African Football following the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian contingent. Mr. President also commended the proactive coordination between the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of the players.

“We hereby express our deep and sincerest appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his warm and kind words of encouragement. These words have gone a long way to reassure the players of the firm support of the Government and people of Nigeria for what they do and the efforts and sacrifice they make in representing this great country.

“The commitment and love for the team by the Government and the entire nation was aptly demonstrated by the physical presence of the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh at the airport to welcome the team back to Nigeria.

“Mr. President as the father of the nation, has once again demonstrated his concern and keen interest in the beautiful game of football that unites our peoples from all walks of life and across all known mental, physical, spiritual, political and economic boundaries, and which fosters national unity and friendship among peoples and nations of the universe.”

Gusau, who led the delegation to Libya, also commended the captain and crew of the ValueJet aircraft that flew the delegation to and from that country, saying that their patience, diligence, good manners, warmth and endurance made the trip less arduous for the contingent.

“The captain (Mr. Abdul-Latif) and crew were awesome. I must commend, in particular, the captain. He did his job professionally and with a touch of excellence, and even intervened at a point to talk to the airport operatives to allow the NFF leadership to go outside the airport to find a way to hire vehicles for the team. As a fellow North African (Tunisian) who had worked in Libya previously, they were ready to offer him hotel accommodation but not any other member of the crew or any Nigerian, as all the hotels in the city disclosed that they had strict orders not to welcome any Nigerian nationality. He refused their offer and rather opted to sleep in the aircraft with the rest of the crew.

“The captain and crew showed great maturity and kindness. We will never forget them.”

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