When I came across a news report absolving the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, of responsibility for the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, I was overwhelmed with confusion and surprise.
Frankly speaking, I never expected such a position from a respected football and other sports stakeholder and outspoken analyst like Ahmed Gara-Gombe, who has built a reputation for speaking candidly on issues affecting Nigerian football and other sports.
In my view, any attempt to completely exonerate Ibrahim Musa Gusau from the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification failure is neither fair, objective, nor consistent with the principles of accountability in sports administration.
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I am fully aware that success or failure in football cannot be attributed to one individual alone.
However, I also believe that Ahmed Gara-Gombe understands better than most that football administrators have a crucial role to play in creating the right environment for success.
They are responsible for providing leadership, making critical decisions, formulating policies, ensuring proper planning, and overseeing the effective management of the national teams.
Therefore, it is difficult to completely absolve those at the helm of football administration especially Gusau when the desired results are not achieved.
As the head of the NFF, Gusau occupies the highest administrative position in Nigerian football.
Consequently, it is difficult to argue that he bears no responsibility whatsoever for one of the country’s biggest football disappointments in recent years.
If the federation’s leadership is credited whenever the national teams record successes, it should also be willing to accept a share of the responsibility when things go wrong.
Therefore, while other stakeholders may have contributed to the failure, completely absolving the NFF president from blame does not present a balanced assessment of the circumstances that led to the Super Eagles’ inability to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gara-Gombe should know that when a national team achieves remarkable success, the football federation leadership is often praised.
By the same token, when the team records a major failure such as missing out on World Cup qualification, the leadership, especially Gusau cannot be completely shielded from criticism.
I am certain that Gara-Gombe is fully aware that the NFF President is the chief administrator of Nigerian football.
By virtue of that position, decisions relating to coaching appointments, technical development, player welfare, match preparations, and the overall management of the game ultimately fall under the federation he supervised.
Consequently, it is difficult to argue that the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation bears no responsibility whatsoever for the disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign.
Accountability is a fundamental principle of sports administration, and those entrusted with the leadership of football must accept their share of responsibility when expectations are not met.
Gara-Gombe should also appreciate the fact that millions of Nigerian football supporters had high hopes of seeing the Super Eagles return strongly to the global stage and compete among the world’s elite football nations.
Unfortunately, the qualification campaign right from onset was characterized by inconsistent performances, questionable decisions, and missed opportunities that ultimately dashed those hopes.
The outcome has left many football-loving Nigerians frustrated and disappointed, particularly considering the quality of players available to the national team and the expectations that surrounded the qualification process.
For this reason, it would be unfair to completely absolve the NFF leadership of responsibility for a failure of such magnitude.
This is not about personal attacks or assigning blame to one individual. Rather, it is about recognizing that every stakeholder must accept a fair share of responsibility for both success and failure.
The players, coaches, technical crew, and football administrators all have important roles to play in determining the fortunes of the national team. However, as the head of the Nigeria Football Federation and the chief administrator of Nigerian football, the NFF President must shoulder a greater share of the responsibility for the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Leadership comes with accountability. When a team succeeds, the leadership is often celebrated for providing direction and support.
Therefore, when the team falls short of expectations, particularly in a campaign as important as World Cup qualification, it is only fair that the federation’s leadership accepts a substantial portion of the blame.
Even though the failure cannot be attributed to one individual alone, the captain of the ship cannot be completely absolved when the voyage ends in disappointment.
For this reason, I respectfully disagree with any attempt by Gara-Gombe to completely exonerate the NFF boss from the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification setback.
Genuine progress can only be achieved when stakeholders honestly assess what went wrong, accept responsibility where necessary, and work collectively to ensure that Nigerian football regains its lost glory.
More so, I find myself wondering why Gara-Gombe did not come forward with specific names of the stakeholders he believes were responsible for the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, rather than making a broad and general attribution of responsibility.
In matters of this magnitude, general statements often raise more questions than they answer.
If there are indeed identifiable decisions or actions that contributed significantly to the outcome, clarity would have strengthened his argument and provided a more constructive basis for public discussion.
Without that level of specificity, the criticism appears open-ended and leaves room for interpretation, rather than offering a clear and accountable assessment of what went wrong.
In matters of this magnitude, especially in football administration where accountability is often demanded by fans and stakeholders, many would expect clearer and more specific identification of those considered responsible.
It was a fact that the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following their loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the African playoffs, has understandably triggered widespread debate and differing interpretations across the football community.
While some critics have placed the blame for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification setback on the players and technical crew, others have directed their criticism squarely at the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (Nigeria Football Federation) under Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
That is why if Gara-Gombe’s intention is to defend Gusau, then clarity should also extend to naming other actors whose decisions or actions contributed to the outcome, so that responsibility is properly understood rather than broadly diffused.
Gara-Gombe is fully aware that football in Nigeria under Ibrahim Musa Gusau does not appear to be progressing at the expected level.
A closer examination of the domestic football structure raises serious concerns about organisation, consistency, and overall competitiveness.
The local leagues, which are meant to serve as the backbone of national team development, are frequently criticised for weak coordination, inconsistent standards, and insufficient development pathways.
These structural deficiencies inevitably affect the quality and readiness of players being produced for international competitions.
When the domestic system is not functioning optimally, it becomes increasingly difficult for the national team to maintain high performance standards on the global stage.
As such, the challenges within the league structure cannot be separated from the broader issues affecting the Super Eagles’ results and overall progress.
Nigeria’s representatives in continental club competitions, including the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, have also struggled to make meaningful impact in recent years, but now frequently suffering early exits against opponents who are often better organised and more tactically disciplined.
Even in competitions such as the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is specifically designed for home-based players, Nigeria’s performances have not been particularly encouraging, with results that fall short of expectations for a football nation of its stature.
Gara-Gombe should also be reminded of the historical embarrassment of the 1991 Green Eagles kit scandal, which led to the dissolution of the NFA board under Alhaji Yusuf Ali.
When this is viewed alongside the current concerns surrounding the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it becomes clear that Nigerian football continues to grapple with recurring administrative, structural, and leadership challenges that have persisted over the years.
While the circumstances may differ, both situations underscore the consequences of weak planning, poor accountability, and institutional shortcomings within football governance.
The key lesson from history is that football success cannot be sustained solely on the talent of players.
It requires competent administration, effective leadership, and a well-structured football development system capable of consistently producing and supporting elite performance.
Moving forward, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should carry out a thorough review of its governance structure, technical programmes, and overall football development policies.
Greater emphasis must be placed on transparency, accountability, and measurable performance evaluation across all levels of administration if meaningful progress is to be achieved and sustained.
Football stakeholders, including the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), club owners, coaches, former players, government agencies, sponsors, and supporters, all have a role to play in restoring confidence in the system.
A functional football system depends on the collective effort and cooperation of all these actors, not only the NFF board.
However, while responsibility may be shared across the board, leadership must remain ultimately accountable for overall outcomes, especially in matters relating to national team performance and international competitiveness.
Those in positions of authority are expected to provide direction, coordination, and measurable progress.
In addition, grassroots football development should be treated as a national priority. The NFF needs to strengthen youth development programmes, school sports competitions, academies, and structured talent identification systems across the country.
A sustainable football framework must ensure a clear and consistent pathway from grassroots football to professional clubs and, ultimately, to the national teams.
Equally important is sustained investment in coaching education, referee development, sports science, and modern football infrastructure.
These elements are essential for building a system capable of long-term growth, stability, and competitiveness on the international stage.
The domestic league also requires urgent and sustained reforms. The Nigeria Premier Football League, along with the lower divisions, must be run on a more professional footing, with stronger attention to scheduling, financial management, officiating standards, marketing strategies, and strict club licensing requirements.
A well-structured domestic league remains the foundation of any successful national team system. It provides the competitive environment needed to develop players, improve match readiness, and sustain high performance levels over time.
Nigeria cannot consistently compete with leading football nations if its local football structure remains weak, inconsistent, and underdeveloped.
Strengthening league standards will not only improve player development but also expand the pool of quality home-based talent available for national team selection, ultimately enhancing the overall competitiveness of Nigerian football.
In addition, there must be a clear long-term technical vision guiding all national teams. Frequent changes in coaching personnel, inconsistent football philosophies, and short-term planning have repeatedly undermined continuity and long-term progress.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should set measurable objectives for the Super Eagles and other national teams, backed by well-structured technical committees made up of experienced football professionals.
Such bodies should provide proper guidance, monitoring, and oversight, ideally insulated from political interference, to ensure consistency and professionalism in decision-making.
Finally, Nigerian football must gradually shift towards a culture of institutional accountability rather than personal blame or the defence of individuals.
Whether addressing historical administrative failures such as the 1991 kit scandal or more recent setbacks like failure to qualify for major tournaments, the emphasis should always be on learning lessons, correcting systemic weaknesses, and implementing reforms that prevent recurrence.
However, absolving Gusau of responsibility for the Super Eagles’ failure, in my view, is fundamentally wrong.
As the head of the football governing body, he must inevitably bear a significant share of responsibility for such an unfortunate outcome.
Modern football success is not accidental; it depends on strong institutions, strategic planning, professional management, and a collective commitment to excellence across all levels of the game.
When these elements are weak or inconsistent, the results on the pitch inevitably reflect those shortcomings.
Only through genuine reforms and sustained commitment can Nigeria reclaim its position among Africa’s leading football nations and restore the confidence of millions of passionate supporters.
Against this backdrop, it becomes difficult to separate Gusau and his administration from the responsibility for both the Super Eagles’ failure and the persistent challenges within the domestic league that continue to hinder Nigerian football’s progress.
