Danladi Bako: Gusau, NFF Board Should Quit Over Nigeria’s Football Failures

Former Nigeria Football Association Chairman in Sokoto State and veteran sports administrator, Danladi Bako, has called on the Ibrahim Gusau-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board to resign following what he described as a prolonged period of poor leadership and disappointing results by the country’s national teams.

Bako, who said the NFF leadership had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerian football fans, questioned how Nigeria could miss out on consecutive FIFA World Cups in 2022 and 2026 despite the increase in Africa’s qualifying slots.

He also expressed disappointment over the Super Falcons’ early exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which he said compounded the country’s recent footballing setbacks.

According to Bako, Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup was particularly painful given that smaller nations such as Cape Verde and Curaçao secured places at the tournament.

He recalled his involvement in the campaign for increased African representation at the World Cup, noting that he was the producer of NTA’s Mastersports programme in 1992 when he helped advocate for the expansion of Africa’s allocation from two to five places. Nigeria subsequently qualified for the 1994 World Cup for the first time.

Bako also questioned the accountability surrounding the funds released for Nigeria’s campaign at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, alleging that the Federal Government released N12 billion for the tournament. He said the relevant authorities should be prepared to account for how the money was spent.

He rejected what he described as repeated attempts by football administrators to blame coaches, players, playing surfaces or bad luck for poor results, insisting that the problems were rooted in leadership and institutional failures.

‘No, it is sheer incompetence that produces these kinds of results,’ Bako said, stressing that his assessment was based on his experience as a former FA chairman in Sokoto State and as Special Adviser to former Sports Minister Jim Nwobodo.

Bako further criticised the performance of Nigeria’s age-grade national teams and argued that the country’s football administration urgently requires restructuring. He called for a review of the NFF Statutes and electoral system, particularly the composition of the Congress that elects the federation’s executive board.

He argued that more voting influence should be given to the professional clubs, which he described as the ‘goose that lays the golden egg,’ while questioning the dominant role of state football association chairmen in determining the leadership of Nigerian football.

Bako also lamented what he described as the marginalisation of former Nigerian football stars and administrators with significant experience, citing Felix Owolabi, Daniel Amokachi, Nwankwo Kanu and Segun Odegbami as individuals whose knowledge and experience could contribute to the development of the game.

According to him, the NFF presidency requires a leader with strong football knowledge, administrative capacity, business acumen, international connections and the ability to inspire national teams during crucial moments.

He cited former football administrators and sports personalities including Air Commodore Ikhazoboh, Samson Omeruah, Kojo Williams, Yusuf Alli and Jim Nwobodo as examples of the qualities he believes are needed to lead Nigerian football.

Bako also argued that Nigeria’s fear of FIFA sanctions should not prevent domestic reforms, insisting that countries should be able to design football administration structures that suit their circumstances, provided such statutes are submitted to FIFA and comply with the governing body’s requirements.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and facilitate a leadership transition at the NFF, suggesting that Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila or Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom he described as a football expert, could help initiate discussions with Shehu Dikko and other stakeholders.

Bako said the Gusau-led board should ‘nicely’ be encouraged to resign and ‘take a bow,’ pointing to Italy and other football associations where leadership changes followed failure to qualify for major international tournaments.

He concluded that Nigeria could no longer afford to allow the current situation to continue, warning that fundamental reforms were necessary if the country was to restore its status as a major force in African and world football.

Bako, who holds a PhD and is an OON, said has attended six FIFA World Cups, three Olympic Games and 12 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.