NFF scribe may resign over heated pressure

NFF scribe may resign over heated pressure

By Mike Ndidi

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Dr. Muhammad Sanusi, is said to be considering resigning from his position.

A close associate of the Kebbi born football administrator confided to Sunsportunlimited

According to the long time associates, Sanusi revealed to him that the pressure on him may force him to quit the job and take up appointment as a full time lecturer in the university.

The source who claimed to be Sanusi's bosom friend from youthful years in Sokoto said, the NFF scribe, who has been at NFF for 17 years and has held sway as General Secretary for 11 years, is said to be considering returning to the Ivory tower due to pressure from various quarters

Dr. Sanusi, who has a three-year existing contract with the NFF and on a monthly salary of $10, 000, 00. Dollars per month, an amount he claims is one of the poorest paid Secretary General in Africa, is said to be frustrated with the poor turn of results recorded in recent times by the Super Eagles especially the non - qualification of the Super Eagles to the 2026 World Cup and the inability to win the just concluded AFCON

Dr. Sanusi came into the NFF as Director of Competition in 2009. He later became General Secretary in 2015, and has had his contract as General Secretary extended for a period exceeding government regulatory period of a term not extending six years.

It will be recalled that prior to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, seeing that Dr. Sanusi's contract with the NFF has expired, pleaded with the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade to extend Sanusi's so as not to "scuttle " Nigeria's World Cup qualification ticket for the World Cup.

Olapade later granted the NFF president's wish.

With the Super Eagles failing to qualify for the World Cup and the inability to win the AFCON, Dr Sanusi has confided to his friend that he's contemplating quitting his job at the NFF and return to full time academia

"You're aware that Dr. Sanusi was a lecturer before he moved to football administration. Now he wants to return to his line of discipline, which is academic to save him from pressure that is affecting his health," the source hinted

But his employers, the NFF only recently at its Annual General Assembly in Ibadan, passed a vote of confidence on Dr Sanusi but the bearded administrator is no longer comfortable with the job due to pressure and threats from the government.