Okumagba to football stakeholders: 'Put Nigerian Football First' as NFF faces new era

Okumagba to football stakeholders: “Put Nigerian Football First” as NFF faces new era

The Super Eagles Supporters Club has called for unity, inclusiveness and a renewed commitment to Nigerian football following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the federation’s General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of its Executive Committee.

In a statement signed by its president, Prince Vincent Okumagba, the supporters club described the leadership shake-up as a “significant development” and wished the outgoing officials well in their future endeavours.

The statement came on a dramatic day for Nigerian football, with Gusau confirming his resignation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. The NFF subsequently announced that Sanusi and the Executive Committee members had also stepped down.

The federation said Gusau’s decision was intended to create room for a “comprehensive and orderly reform process” to address longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges.

Okumagba said the priority for supporters and other stakeholders must now be the restoration of Nigerian football’s fortunes rather than prolonged recriminations over the outgoing administration.

“As supporters and stakeholders, our greatest desire is to see Nigerian football thrive and regain its rightful place on the global stage,” he said.

The call comes after a difficult period for Nigeria’s two senior national teams.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the African qualifying play-off, leaving Nigeria out of the tournament for a second consecutive edition.

The Super Falcons subsequently suffered an even more historic setback. After their quarter-final elimination from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by Cameroon, Nigeria lost 2-1 to South Africa in the subsequent World Cup qualification play-off. The result ended the Falcons’ unprecedented run of appearing at every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.

Despite the recent disappointments, the Supporters Club believes Nigerian football has the resources to recover.

“Nigerian football has the talent, passion and enormous potential to rise again,” Okumagba said.

Against this backdrop, the Super Eagles Supporters Club is seeking a more inclusive approach to the national teams’ rebuilding process.

Okumagba urged the authorities to ensure “the full participation and inclusion of all recognised supporters groups” as Nigerian football moves into its next phase.

The appeal reflects the broader role supporters’ organisations have traditionally played around the national teams, providing organised backing at home and abroad while helping to sustain public enthusiasm during difficult periods.

The leadership transition also comes just weeks before the NFF’s scheduled elective congress, which is expected to usher in a new Executive Committee for the next four-year cycle. The election timetable had already provided for candidate screening in late August, publication of cleared candidates in September and voting in Lafia on September 27.

With the federation now facing a leadership transition and the Super Eagles preparing for a new qualifying campaign, the coming weeks will be critical for determining whether the latest upheaval becomes another chapter in Nigerian football’s crisis or the beginning of a genuine rebuilding process.

For the Supporters Club, the message is unequivocal: the focus should be on the future. “Better days lie ahead,” Okumagba said.