NFF Elections: Sports Administrator Warns Against Leadership Change
Prominent Sports administrator, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe has cautioned against attempts to dethrone the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau at the next federation elections.
Gara-Gombe said another leadership change would not solve the country’s football problems but rather worsen the situation. He addressed newsmen in Abuja on the forthcoming NFF board elections and other football related matters.
The former boss of the Gombe State Football Association said that the constant changes in leadership of the country’s football has done little to solve the challenges facing the game.
He said Nigeria has been replacing football administrators for decades without addressing the structural flaws while warning that those pushing for a change of leadership were focusing on personalities, instead of fundamental reforms needed to revive Nigerian football.
Former Gombe State Football Association boos, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe. Former Gombe State Football Association boos, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe.
“Even if Gusau leaves today as some people are calling for, I swear to God nothing will change in Nigerian football. “Don’t be surprised if you sack Gusau today and Nigeria still fails to qualify for the 2030 World Cup” Gara-Gombe said.
Read Also:‘Will Never Try It Again’ – Destiny Etiko Opens Up on N5 Million Betting Loss
A veteran sports administrator described the controversy that has trailed every NFF election as a vicious cycle that has continued for over 40 years.
Every election season brings with it quarrels, allegations, court threats and fears of FIFA sanctions, but the divisive issues are quickly forgotten once the elections are over.
‘It is confusion, fights, threats of sanctions and all sorts of controversies whenever NFF elections come for over 40 years. Once the elections are over, everybody forgets those issues until the next election comes around,” he stressed.
Gara-Gombe blamed what he called rampant hypocrisy among football stakeholders, accusing many administrators, former players and interest groups of speaking out only when their personal interests were no longer being served.
He said he had been following recent comments from newspaper editors, former internationals, administrators and officials concerning the NFF elections and Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But said much of the criticism aimed at Gusau was undeserved.
“Successive NFF boards have not produced improved results by replacing them,” the former Gombe FA chairman who had wanted to contest for the NFF presidency but pulled out alleging unacceptable provisions in the electoral guidelines said.
