Gusau Must Return As NFF President – Hajji Gafar
3 min read
By Sportsgister
The Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar, has declared that Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will return elected as the President in September.
Gafar said this after the just concluded NFF Extraordinary Aseembly in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He hailed the bold decision by the NFF to amend the statutes as a landmark moment that signals a new era for Nigerian football.
He noted that the revision of the NFF statutes—unchanged for 16 years—represents a significant milestone in aligning Nigerian football with global best practices.
“The outlook is entirely positive. The revision of the statutes after 16 years is a monumental and unprecedented achievement. It marks the beginning of a new era for Nigerian football. Congress collectively agreed on the need to update the statutes to reflect modern realities and align with international standards.”
He added that the successful amendment of the statutes stands as a major victory for the game in Nigeria.
Gafar emphasized that the new statutes will positively impact domestic football, particularly by enhancing inclusivity in decision-making. He highlighted that NPFL clubs will now have five representatives with voting rights, while the NNL will have four delegates, two of whom will vote.
Speaking further, he encouraged the Nationwide League One (NLO) to consider transitioning into a fully professional structure, noting FIFA’s provision that allows players from the age of 15 to sign professional contracts under appropriate guidance.
“With the removal of the term ‘Amateur’ from the league, there is now a clear pathway for the NLO to operate professionally. FIFA allows players aged 15 and above to sign professional contracts within their country, under parental or guardian supervision. This presents a great opportunity to create a structured, professional environment for young talents to thrive.”
He also commended the leadership of the NFF under President Ibrahim Gusau, rating the administration positively for navigating the complexities of football governance in Nigeria.
“Managing football in a country like Nigeria is not an easy task. With over 200 million passionate and knowledgeable people, the challenges are enormous. For the current leadership to have sustained stability over the past three and a half years is commendable. In my view, they deserve continuity.
“You have to look at the success of the NPFL, at week 31 it recording unpredictable results. That is part of the achievements of the year NFF led by Ibrahim Gusau,” he added.
He also listed other achievements of the Gusau administration especially in making judicious use of funds to improve infrastructure and the chance given to major stakeholders to have a say in how football is run in the country.
“Then there is the landmark construction of the FIFA Goal Project, hostel and pitches in Abuja. Now the amendment of the statutes is for the success of the NPFL.
“Giving them voting power is definitely giving major stakeholders chance to be part of the decision making process of Nigerian football,” he concluded.
Gafar expressed his support for Gusau’s re-election, citing consistency and innovative leadership as key factors.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
