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NFF Crisis: ‘The Struggle Is Not Over’ — Jalla Demands Credible Normalisation Committee After Gusau Exit
Prince Harrison Jalla, Chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative and head of the PFAN Task Force, has called for the immediate constitution of a credible Normalisation Committee following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the entire NFF leadership, insisting that the latest development must become the beginning of genuine reform rather than another change of personalities.
Jalla described the resignation of Gusau and the NFF Executive Committee as a victory for Nigerian football but warned that the battle to rebuild the country’s football administration is far from over.
“It is a new dawn for Nigeria football,” Jalla said.
“We have all fought a good fight and kept the faith, but we have not finished the course. The struggle continues until the right thing is done from the word go.”
Gusau announced his resignation on Thursday at a World Press Conference in Abuja, saying he was stepping aside to create room for a “comprehensive and orderly reform process” capable of addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental problems confronting Nigerian football.
The NFF subsequently confirmed the resignation of General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the Executive Committee, triggering a major leadership vacuum within the federation.
For Jalla, however, the departure of the leadership is only the first step.
He wants the government and football stakeholders to move quickly to establish a Normalisation Committee made up of Nigerians with the competence, credibility and independence required to rebuild the system.
“The NFF Board is gone, Nigeria Football wins,” Jalla said, while calling for a Normalisation Committee comprising credible individuals.
Jalla insists that the composition of the committee will be critical because the reform process cannot simply replace one group with another without addressing the structural weaknesses that have affected Nigerian football.
“With the composition of the Normalisation Committee, all federating units of the NFF, the private sector and other relevant groups must be represented fairly and equally,” he said.
“Nobody can hide under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to skew things in their own favour or play God in this new dispensation. That era is gone forever.”
The reform advocate also called for the NFF Congress and Executive Committee to be democratically elected under a system that provides equal representation to the recognised federating units.
He wants the private sector to play a greater role in the administration and development of Nigerian football, arguing that a broader stakeholder structure would produce a more balanced and accountable federation.
Jalla’s demands come as the Federal Government moves to implement a wider reform of Nigerian football following the resignation of the NFF leadership.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders on a comprehensive reform process covering governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
The NFF’s planned September 27 elective congress has also been suspended as the authorities prepare for the next phase of the transition.
The federation has meanwhile appointed former Deputy General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme to oversee the NFF Secretariat on an interim basis, ensuring continuity while consultations with FIFA, CAF, government and other stakeholders continue.
Jalla believes that the next few weeks could determine whether Nigeria genuinely breaks away from the old system or simply repeats the same cycle.
He has therefore urged the National Sports Commission, led by Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, to ensure that the reform process remains neutral and does not favour any individual or group.
“The National Sports Commission, under Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, must not falter or be seen to favour any individual or group over another,” Jalla said.
“This reform must be total, competence-driven, and nothing more.”
The latest developments have also raised questions over the ongoing investigation into the use of Federal Government intervention funds released to Nigerian football.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed that its investigation will continue despite the mass resignations at the NFF.
For Jalla, therefore, the resignation of Gusau should not be treated as the conclusion of the crisis.
It is the opportunity to finally address the deeper problems.
After years of campaigning for structural changes to the way Nigerian football is governed, Jalla now wants the authorities to ensure that the opportunity created by the mass resignation is not wasted.
The message from the reform advocate is unmistakable: Gusau and his board may be gone, but the real fight, rebuilding Nigerian football from the foundation, has only just begun.
News
“Talent Alone Is Not Enough” — Ebi Egbe Questions Super Eagles’ Preparation for Madagascar Clash
Sports facilities expert and Monimichelle Sports CEO Ebi Egbe has raised questions over the Super Eagles’ preparation for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar, insisting that Nigeria must prepare for the specific playing conditions they will encounter rather than depend solely on the quality of their Europe-based stars.
Nigeria will open their qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
But for Egbe, assembling talented players is only one part of preparing properly for an international fixture.
“The key issue is not simply whether Nigeria has talented footballers. It is whether the coaching and technical teams have adequately prepared those footballers for the actual match conditions,” Egbe said.
Speaking from his experience as a professional groundsman, Egbe argued that footballers accustomed to carefully maintained European pitches can encounter different technical and physical demands when playing on surfaces where ball movement, traction, levels and bounce may differ.
He stressed that his argument should not be interpreted to mean Europe-based players are incapable of performing effectively in African conditions.
Instead, Egbe believes the coaching staff must ensure their preparation takes account of the environment in which matches will actually be played.
“A player performing exceptionally well on a carefully maintained European pitch may face a different technical and physical challenge on an African playing surface with inconsistent ball roll, uneven levels, variable traction or unpredictable ball bounce,” he said.
Head coach Éric Chelle has selected a squad featuring established Europe-based players including Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon for the opening qualifiers.
For Egbe, however, individual quality should be complemented by preparation tailored to the conditions.
His question ahead of Madagascar is therefore straightforward: are the Super Eagles merely assembling their best players, or preparing those players for the exact environment in which Nigeria’s AFCON campaign will begin?
Nigerian Army troops arrested 47 suspected criminals, rescued several kidnapped victims and killed a suspected terrorist in nationwide operations in the last 24 hours.
The troops also recovered suspected stolen and rustled livestock, detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) and disrupted criminal activities across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Plateau, Anambra, Imo and Kaduna states.
An operational report released on Saturday said troops of Operation MESA arrested the 47 suspects during a raid in Nasarawa State.
The report said troops of the 177 Guards Battalion, in conjunction with the State Security Service (SSS), police, and a civilian joint task force, raided suspected criminal hideouts at Tipper Garage and Gidan Drama in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
It said the troops recovered two motorcycles, an unspecified quantity of suspected cannabis, 32 mobile phones, a laptop and charger, four wristwatches, five power banks and an ATM card.
According to the report, the troops handed over the suspects and recovered items to the police division in Karu for further investigation.
In Zamfara, the report said the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued three civilians who sustained gunshot wounds after engaging terrorists along the Dampo-Rumba Road in Bakura Local Government Area.
It added that the victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Bakura for medical attention.
According to the report, troops responding to a kidnapping incident along the Dandume-Damari Road in Katsina also engaged the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee.
“The troops recovered one vehicle during the operation.
“Similarly, troops responding to terrorist activities along the Isa-Girnashe Road in Sokoto rescued two kidnapped victims after engaging the terrorists.
“One of the victims, however, was confirmed dead from gunshot wounds.
“The troops also intercepted five trucks conveying 117 cows, two donkeys, one goat and five cow skins suspected to have been stolen at Magami in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.
“The recovered livestock were handed over to the Chairman, Committee on Recovery of Rustled Cattle, Gusau, for further action.
“In another operation in Tsafe, Zamfara, troops intercepted a suspected stolen vehicle with the support of the National Security Adviser’s tracking team.
“The driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled after being intercepted, while the vehicle was recovered to the unit headquarters for further action,” it said.
In Niger, the report revealed that troops of Operation Savannah Shield discovered and safely detonated an IED along the Dekara-Gewazi Road in Borgu Local Government Area.
It added that troops of Operation Enduring Peace neutralised a suspected terrorist during an offensive operation at Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna.
The report further revealed that troops engaged the suspects, killing one while others fled the scene.
“At Yangwari Market in Mangu Local Government Area, troops intervened after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle conveying passengers and foodstuffs.
“Eight passengers who sustained gunshot wounds were evacuated to Allah-na-Kowa Hospital, where three were confirmed dead while others received treatment,” it added.
In the South-East, the report said the troops of Operation Udo Ka arrested suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) during offensive operations along the Azia-Uli-Okija axis.
It added that three suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape through Orsu-Ihiteukwa in Imo, but one was killed while trying to evade arrest.
According to the report, the remaining suspects were handed over to the SSS for further action.
“Troops also arrested two suspected IPOB/ESN members at Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, following intelligence linking them with the group’s activities.
“The suspects reportedly confessed to delivering items to terrorists on two occasions and remained in military custody for further action.
“In Imo, troops conducting anti-illegal bunkering operations discovered an illegal refining site containing about 720 litres of illegally refined crude oil and 41 cooking drums at Egbema.
“All recovered items were handled in line with extant regulations,” it said.
(NAN)
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