Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau faces calls to resign after the Super Falcons lost 2-1 to South Africa and failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
South Africa secured the win in Thursday’s CAF play-off in Morocco, ending Nigeria’s record of appearing at every Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.
After the defeat, Nigerian supporters criticised Gusau and demanded changes at the NFF.
One supporter, @SarkinFoto, wrote: “The NFF President needs to tender a resignation letter before daybreak and NOT an apology letter.”
Similarly, Ben Marke wrote: “In a sane society this guy ought to resign and apologize for wasting our time.”
Another supporter, @Weirdmaskman NG, said: “A responsible person would read the room and call it quits while he’s behind.”
The latest criticism follows Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Super Eagles losing to DR Congo on penalties in the African play-off final in November 2025.
Meanwhile, Gusau had defended the NFF’s preparations before the Super Falcons faced South Africa.
“Well, we are doing our best. You know, sometimes people just like to talk anyhow,” Gusau said.
He pointed to friendly matches against Cameroon in Nigeria and Yaoundé and efforts to arrange a meeting with Senegal.
“We tried to organise a friendly match for them against the Senegal national team,” he said.
Gusau also defended the decision to arrange African opposition before the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“We are coming for an African tournament. Nobody should expect us to go and arrange a match for the Super Falcons against Norway or Sweden or what have you.”
The NFF president had also apologised to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians after Nigeria lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the WAFCON quarter-final. He said the federation would review its preparation, technical planning and operations.
However, Nigeria then lost to South Africa, ending its World Cup qualification campaign.
The defeat also means Nigeria will miss both the men’s 2026 World Cup and the women’s 2027 World Cup.
Gusau now faces further pressure as the NFF prepares for its next election, with supporters questioning his leadership of Nigerian football.
