Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has hailed the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the entire NFF board, describing their decision to step aside as an “honourable path” and a sacrifice made in the interest of Nigerian football.
Olopade made the remarks at the Best Western Hotel in Enugu during a Local Organising Committee meeting for the National Sports Festival, in his first media appearance since the dramatic resignation of Gusau and members of his board.
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The NSC director-general said the decision by the NFF leadership had strengthened his belief that Nigerian sport can still move forward when those in positions of authority are prepared to put the wider interest of the country ahead of personal considerations.
“Because we are all in the football and sporting world trying to see how our country can move forward, I want to salute Mallam Gusau for the honourable path he chose by resigning earlier on today alongside his entire board,” Olopade said.
The former Sports Commissioner stressed that the development was significant to him personally, particularly because it represented what he described as a huge sacrifice for the country.
“As this is my first media appearance since that incident, it was necessary for me to just put this out today and say that my belief in this country has been greatly energised by Mallam Gusau and his words, and all of those who resigned alongside him,” he said.
“I know that was a huge sacrifice for the country, yes, even though if it was not. I salute them.”
Olopade’s comments came just hours after Gusau announced his resignation at a World Press Conference at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, bringing his three years and eleven months in office to an end.
Gusau said his decision followed consultations with his family, friends and stakeholders in Nigerian football and was taken in the overriding interest of the sport.
“My resignation is intended to give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian football,” Gusau said.
The resignation followed mounting pressure on the NFF administration after a difficult period for Nigeria’s national teams, most notably the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The setback ended Nigeria’s record of appearing at every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the tournament was launched, while the Super Eagles had also failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Olopade’s reaction suggests that the NSC views the resignation as an opportunity to begin a fresh conversation about the future structure and administration of Nigerian football.
Rather than criticising Gusau for leaving before the end of his elected tenure, the NSC boss chose to publicly commend him and the other officials who stepped aside.
His intervention is also likely to fuel expectations of a broader reform process as Nigerian football attempts to recover from its recent setbacks and rebuild confidence among supporters and stakeholders.
For Olopade, however, the significance of Gusau’s decision goes beyond the NFF presidency.
It is about showing that leaders can make difficult decisions when the national interest demands it.
And from Enugu, the NSC boss delivered his clearest message yet: he salutes Gusau and those who resigned with him, and their decision has given him renewed belief that Nigerian football can still find its way forward.
