An ominous question is looming over the future of Nigerian football, following the historic resignation of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as the country’s number administrator in the round leather game.
The overly anticipated exit of Gusau came eventually at a well-attanded world press confrence on Thursday, but deep thinking observers must have been left pondering about realistic implications in his choice of words.
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Personally, I started contemplating, rather than celebrating, after the immediate past president of Nigeria Football Feration (NFF) bowed out with an ominous question – What Next?
Before an answer could come to his rhetorical question, another poser came to add extra suspense to the next direction the NFF will follow and which ideas will emerge for a reivival of Nigerian football, as the governing body’s long-standing general secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi also threw in the towel.
This means another chapter opened for Nigerian football on Thursday, with fresh answers now urgently needed, after Gusau bowed out with his hugely emotional speech. In the wake of his farewell address, secretariat staff and stakeholders of the round leather game must now hit the ground running in the search for answers – looking for ideas on how to chart a new course to follow.
The resignations of Gusau and Sanusi were welcomed with excited reactions from Nigerian football fans at home and abroad, as they had both been blamed in recent days for a flood of setbacks that hit the game under their watch, especially regarding the national teams.
However, introspective and circcumpsect analysts would recall that similar agitations as the ones that hit a climax on Thursday also knocked out many predcessors at Sunday Dankaro House – Kojo Williams, Abdulmumini Aminu, Ibrahim Galadima, Aminu Maigari, Amaju Pinnick et al. Sadly, like a bad coin that keeps rolling back, the turbulent saga continues in Nigeria’s chequered football history.
Gusau admitted he is not a saint, but cited examples to show that he is neither a villain, nor a complete failure. The administrator from Zamfara State, who remains the president of West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B, stressed that he leaves with a sense of self-satisfaction over what Nigerian football achieved during his tenure.
He highlighted his focus on technical development through education, noting that coaching courses have been organised in virtually all levels, and even a high-profile CAF A-License course set to commence on the 13th of September.
He also pointed to improved stability in the domestic league calendar, progress in the refereeing sector and extensive focus on improvements in various infrastructure for the beautiful game.
Among his ‘many unrecognised’ achievements, Gusau also mentioned a 68-room NFF Players’ Hostel project and new training pitches that are under construction at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, as well as silver and bronze medal feats of the Super Eagles in the past two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Gusau also told us not to forget the Super Falcons’ 10th WAFCON triumph in Morocco and qualifications of the youth female national teams for global championships. All of these, he tried to make us understand, were achievements that should have earned him accolades and vote of confidence for a second term.
However, with the Super Eagles and Falcons both failing to qualify for the male and female FIFA World Cups within the same span of time, while male youth national teams also faced recurring defeats at the regional level, many critics, analysts and supporters felt time was up for Gusau (rightfully so).
So, Gusau eventually bowed out in a very emotional yet symbolic manner, but his final words left many deep-thinking Nigerians looking inwards and wondering if indeed instant changes will come for the round leather game and justify his widely celebrated exit.
“After consultation with family, friends and stakeholders, I just want to tell you that I have decided to resign from my position. Nobody is greater than this country. We all love our country and its progress.
“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.
“As people who have been in football and managing football, we need to look at ourselves and ask, ‘What next?’ So, we made a lot of consultations,” said Gusau, who also advised NFF’s exective committee members to follow his footsteps.
However, now that Gusau is gone, the saga continues, and the first question to be answered is: Who takes over the saddle at Sunday Dankaro House? In that regard, another battle has already started, with support divided between the likelihood of a former president returning or a famous club owner taking over. So, we ask, “Who will be the next NFF boss?”
The answer to that question could lead to another wave of cold blood in the corridors of Nigerian football, with fresh acrimony searing through the losing camp. That would also mean the new man will step out into torrid waters from the word go and we’ll all see a return to the same old tale about ill thoughts and envious hands rocking the boat of Nigerian football.
This simply means the emergence of the new sheriff might not truly answer all questions that are currently lingering over the future of Nigerian football. Gusau asked, “What Next?” For now, the only answer is, “Time will tell!”
