Sports

Ibrahim Gusau’s Commitment to Grassroots Football Development

Published

2 years ago

November 2, 2024

By
Daniel Moses

Nigerian football is renowned for its passion, talent, and dedication. Yet, despite its rich heritage, the sport faces challenges that have hindered its growth. Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has taken the initiative to transform Nigerian football through a comprehensive grassroots development program.

Before becoming NFF President, Gusau championed grassroots initiatives in his home state of Zamfara. He is committed to extending these efforts to underdeveloped areas, where raw talent is discovered and nurtured, paving the way for future stars in international football.

Gusau’s approach to grassroots football development includes several key components. He has collaborated with progressive organizations to establish a major preseason tournament, allowing teams from various regions to prepare for the new season. Originally launched in Kano, the tournament has recently been hosted in Plateau State and is now moving to Nasarawa State to broaden grassroots engagement.

Since taking office, Gusau has revived age-grade teams, a concept abandoned by previous administrations. The formation of U-13 and U-15 national teams aims to serve as a talent pool for U-17 and U-20 squads. Various youth leagues are now operational across the country to identify and develop hidden talents. Additionally, football academies are receiving support to enhance their talent development programs, alongside regular coaching clinics for local coaches and training opportunities for women coaches.

Gusau has intensified talent identification efforts, encouraging youth participation in local competitions. He recently awarded trophies for age-grade tournaments in Benue and Nasarawa States, with plans to expand this initiative to more states in the future.

On the infrastructure front, Gusau has been proactive in supporting the upgrade and construction of football facilities, including pitches, stadiums, and training centers. He personally visits these facilities to ensure they meet international standards.

His administration has also formed strategic partnerships with international football organizations, governments, and private sector entities to secure funding and resources for grassroots development.

Historically, Nigerian football has relied on imported talent, overlooking the vast potential within its borders. This has led to inconsistent performances and an over-reliance on individual talent. Gusau understands that sustainable success hinges on investing in grassroots development.

Since launching his program, notable successes have been achieved, including increased youth participation in leagues and academies, improved training for local coaches, and the discovery of talented players who have represented Nigeria internationally. Additionally, Nigeria’s youth teams have seen increased success in various international competitions for both men and women.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain, such as funding issues, a shortage of quality facilities, and a need for greater transparency and accountability within programs.

For Gusau’s initiatives to reach their full potential, it is crucial to attract private sector investment and corporate sponsorships. Effective collaboration with state and local governments, as well as partnerships with international organizations, will also be essential for securing necessary resources.

In conclusion, Ibrahim Gusau’s grassroots football development program aims to spark a revolution in Nigerian football. By prioritizing youth development, infrastructure, and coaching, Nigeria is on track to become a football powerhouse as this program continues to evolve.

(Daniel Moses is a Sports Analyst from Jos, Plateau State)

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Sports

Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney

Published

18 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.

Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.

In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.

The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.

In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.

At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.

According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.

“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.

Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.

He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.

The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.

He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.

“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.

Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.

The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.

According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.

The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.

It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.

The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.

He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.

“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.

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