Joel Ajayi
Veteran football administrator and sports analyst, Gara Gombe, has declared his support for the re-election of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, insisting that the football administrator deserves a second term to fully implement his vision for the country’s football.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, on Saturday in Abuja, Gombe said Nigerians should use Gusau’s next tenure to assess his leadership, arguing that many of the challenges confronting Nigerian football were inherited from previous administrations.
“Now is the time to see the real Gusau. His first tenure was largely about managing inherited problems. If given another mandate, Nigerians will have the opportunity to judge him based on his own programmes, policies and achievements,” Gombe said.
He maintained that replacing the current NFF leadership would not automatically solve the nation’s football challenges, stressing that continuity is critical to achieving sustainable growth.
“Changing presidents every four years has never solved Nigerian football’s problems. The issue is not just about individuals; it is about fixing the system. Every new administration starts from scratch, and the cycle continues without meaningful progress,” he stated.
Gombe noted that many of the technical decisions and coaching appointments that affected Nigeria’s recent performances, including the World Cup qualification campaign, predated Gusau’s administration.
“It is unfair to blame Gusau alone for every setback. Several of the coaches who handled the national teams during the qualification campaigns were not appointed by him. We should allow him to execute his own plans before passing judgment,” he said.
The football stakeholder also accused some critics of double standards, saying many of those now demanding a change of leadership remained silent during previous administrations despite similar or more serious challenges.
“There is a lot of hypocrisy in the conversations surrounding Nigerian football today. Some people who are calling for regime change now never spoke out when the same problems existed under previous administrations. Criticism should be objective, not selective,” he added.
Gombe argued that football development is a long-term project that requires consistency in leadership rather than frequent changes at the top.
“You don’t build a successful football nation in one election cycle. Qualifying for the World Cup and developing a strong football structure require long-term planning, continuity and commitment. Countries like Morocco did not achieve their success overnight.”
He also called for comprehensive reforms of the NFF Statutes, particularly the composition of the Congress and the electoral process, describing them as the root of many of the federation’s recurring disputes.
According to him, such reforms should be achieved through dialogue among stakeholders, the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the NFF Congress, rather than through political interference or litigation.
Gombe warned against attempts to influence the forthcoming NFF elections through external pressure, insisting that only institutional reforms—not frequent leadership changes—would guarantee lasting progress for Nigerian football.
“I support Ibrahim Musa Gusau’s re-election because I believe continuity is in the best interest of Nigerian football. Let him complete another term. Then Nigerians can judge him based on his own record. For me, now is the time to see the real Gusau,” he concluded.
