By Dayo Awoniyi
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has officially assumed duties at the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B secretariat in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marking the start of his expanded role in regional football administration.
Gusau was warmly received by staff members at the secretariat on Monday, a gesture that underscores the anticipation surrounding his leadership within the sub-regional football body.
His assumption of duty comes just days after attending the President Federation Cup final at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where he witnessed Kwara United defeat Abakaliki FC 4–3 on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time.
Gusau’s new position at WAFU Zone B is seen as a strategic opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s influence in West African football and drive collaborative development initiatives across the region.
He has previously pledged to elevate the standard of the game in West Africa, promising to bring a results-driven approach to his leadership.
The enthusiastic reception in Abidjan reflects confidence in his capacity to contribute to the growth of the sport, not just in Nigeria but across all member nations of WAFU Zone B.
As he settles into his dual responsibilities, stakeholders are watching closely for the rollout of his vision and policies aimed at boosting football development at both national and regional levels.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
