Sports

Areas Where Ibrahim Gusau Has Recorded Firsts as NFF President

Published

2 years ago

January 27, 2025

Nwamaka Chukwuma, Abuja

Since his election in September 2022, Ibrahim Musa Gusau has led the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with a transformative approach, achieving several significant firsts aimed at revitalizing Nigerian football. His tenure is marked by groundbreaking initiatives, infrastructure development, and progress in various aspects of the game.

Construction of Camping Facilities and Football Pitch

One of Gusau’s standout achievements is the commencement of construction on a new hostel for National team players camping and a standard football pitch at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. This marks a historic first for the NFF, as no previous administration had embarked on a similar project. The facilities are designed to serve the U15, U17, and U20 national teams for boys and girls, ensuring grassroots football development and seamless preparation for competitions.

The General Secretary of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, highlighted that this initiative fulfills one of Gusau’s campaign promises, underlining his commitment to football development. The project is now in the construction phase, with contractors mobilized and clearing already underway.

Global Broadcast Expansion of the NPFL

Under Gusau’s leadership, Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) matches achieved unprecedented global visibility. Through partnerships with international streaming companies, matches are now broadcast in over 120 countries, promoting the league on a global stage. This initiative has attracted international fans and investors, elevating the league’s status like never before.

Historic Referee Development

Gusau prioritized referee development, implementing reforms that allowed young Nigerian referees to receive training from FIFA and officiate in top-tier international competitions. For the first time, ten Nigerian referees were selected to officiate in major leagues, including the English Premier League. This recognition is a milestone in Nigerian football, showcasing the global competitiveness of local referees. Additionally, referees now enjoy timely payment of allowances and improved welfare.

National Team Achievements

Under Gusau’s administration, Nigerian national teams have delivered outstanding performances:

•   The Super Falcons reached the knockout stages of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after a 16-year hiatus.
•   The Super Eagles secured a return to the AFCON finals for the first time since 2013.
•   The U-17 Flamingos made history by finishing third at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, a first-ever achievement for the team.

Revitalization of Domestic Leagues

Gusau has introduced innovations that have revitalized domestic leagues, including the NPFL, NNL, NWFL, and NLO. Key measures include:

•   Partnering with StarTimes to broadcast matches live.
•   Introducing monthly awards for players and coaches to boost motivation and fan engagement.
•   Increasing stadium attendance and fostering a more competitive league environment.

Grassroots Football Development

Grassroots football development has been a cornerstone of Gusau’s administration. Through youth-focused programs, partnerships with international football organizations, and talent-scouting initiatives, the NFF is building a strong pipeline of players for future national teams. The construction of the new hostel and pitch at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium further reinforces this commitment.

Improved Player and Coach Welfare

For the first time, performance-based bonuses were introduced for players and coaches. Salaries, allowances, and bonuses are now paid on time, boosting morale across all national teams. Coaches have also benefited from international training opportunities to stay abreast of modern coaching techniques.

Corporate Sponsorship and Financial Transparency

Gusau’s tenure has seen the NFF secure unprecedented corporate sponsorships, ensuring financial stability for national teams and leagues. His emphasis on transparency has restored confidence among private sector partners, leading to increased investment in Nigerian football.

Referee Recognition at FIFA and CAF

For the first time in history, Nigerian referees trained under Gusau have officiated in high-profile FIFA and CAF tournaments. This milestone has significantly elevated the reputation of Nigerian referees on the global stage.

Strengthening Relationships with Global Organizations

Gusau has strengthened ties with FIFA, CAF, and other international organizations, enabling Nigeria to benefit from technical support, funding, and training programs. These partnerships have positioned Nigeria as a major player in global football development.

Conclusion

Ibrahim Gusau’s leadership has been marked by numerous firsts that reflect his transformative vision for Nigerian football. From grassroots development to international visibility and infrastructure projects, his initiatives have laid the foundation for sustained growth. By delivering on his campaign promises and prioritizing innovation, transparency, and excellence, Gusau is paving the way for a brighter future for Nigerian football.

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Sports

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

Published

9 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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