Arewa Youths Back Gusau, Warn Against Politicising NFF Election

The Coalition of Arewa Youths has declared its support for the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under Ibrahim Musa Gusau, while warning stakeholders against politicising the federation’s forthcoming elective congress.

The coalition said attempts to blame the Gusau-led administration solely for Nigeria’s recent football disappointments, particularly the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, amounted to scapegoating and could undermine meaningful discussions on the future of Nigerian football.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, spokesperson of the coalition, Sa’ad Mohammed, called for a balanced, honest and responsible conversation ahead of the September 27, 2026 NFF Elective Congress scheduled to take place in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Mohammed acknowledged that Nigerian football had experienced painful setbacks but argued that sporting outcomes could not always be attributed to the actions or decisions of administrators.

He stressed that while legitimate questions should be asked about the state of Nigerian football, criticism should not be selectively deployed to advance political or sectional interests ahead of the election.

“Football, as the world knows it, is a game of preparation, discipline, strategy and ability – and, importantly, a game of chances. Sometimes, despite painstaking preparation, determination and the very best efforts of players and officials, the desired result simply does not come,” Mohammed said.

“We must therefore be careful not to turn unfortunate sporting outcomes into an excuse for political or sectional scapegoating.

“The players of our beloved Super Eagles and Super Falcons have repeatedly carried the hopes and aspirations of more than 200 million Nigerians onto the football pitch.

“They have fought, endured pressure and represented our country with pride. When the result has gone against us, it has not necessarily been because those who wore the green and white did not care or did not try.”
He added that football results could sometimes defy expectations despite adequate preparation and commitment.

The coalition noted that Gusau emerged as NFF president following the federation’s election on September 30, 2022, while the tenure of the current Executive Committee is expected to end on September 29, 2026.

It also recalled that the NFF Extraordinary General Assembly held in March 2026 approved amendments to the federation’s Statutes and Electoral Code, while establishing the Electoral Committee and Electoral Appeals Committee for the forthcoming election.

The group further highlighted the unanimous vote of confidence passed by the NFF Congress in the Gusau-led Executive Committee at the March meeting.

According to the youths, the electoral process should provide candidates and stakeholders with an opportunity to present their records, programmes and visions rather than subjecting the incumbent administration to what it described as a “trial by media.”

The coalition also defended the right of Arewa stakeholders to pursue leadership positions within the NFF, insisting that such aspirations should not be portrayed as hostility towards other regions.

It argued that northern stakeholders had supported leadership aspirations from other parts of the country in the past and should therefore be entitled to advocate for their own legitimate opportunity to lead and contribute to the development of Nigerian football.

The group stressed that its position was not intended to diminish the contributions of other regions, but rather to promote fairness and inclusiveness in the federation’s leadership process.

It also cautioned stakeholders against dragging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the internal electoral contest of the NFF.

The coalition urged stakeholders to distinguish between legitimate government support for sports development and interference in the internal administration of the football federation.

It said claims suggesting that the Presidency was seeking to influence the NFF election should not be entertained without credible evidence.

The group further referenced FIFA’s requirement that member associations manage their affairs independently and conduct their elections without undue external influence.

It consequently urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as “unsubstantiated claims and misinformation” regarding alleged plans by the Presidency to interfere in the NFF electoral process.

While expressing confidence in the Gusau-led administration, the coalition acknowledged that the federation’s leadership was not without shortcomings.

“There are areas where more must be done. There are decisions that deserve scrutiny. There are structural problems in Nigerian football that require urgent attention,” it said.

The youths, however, argued that some reforms and initiatives introduced under the current administration required time and continuity to mature.

“Disrupting these efforts midway, without allowing the ongoing changes sufficient time to take root and deliver measurable results, may ultimately set Nigerian football back rather than move it forward,” the coalition said.

The group consequently called for the September 27 NFF Elective Congress to be free, fair, transparent and credible.

It urged the Electoral Committee and other stakeholders to ensure that all legitimate candidates and delegates are allowed to exercise their rights in accordance with the NFF Statutes and Electoral Code.

The coalition maintained that the election should focus on ideas, programmes, records and the capacity of candidates to move Nigerian football forward, rather than sectional sentiments, political accusations or personal attacks.