Ben Akwuegbu Endorses Ibrahim Gusau for Second Term Ahead of NFF Elections

Former Nigeria striker Ben Akwuegbu has thrown his support behind the re-election bid of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau ahead of the federation’s elective congress scheduled to take place in September 2026 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Akwuegbu commended Gusau’s leadership since assuming office in 2022, describing his administration as one focused on restoring stability, fostering unity among stakeholders, and rebuilding confidence in the governance of Nigerian football.

According to the former international, the current NFF leadership has made significant efforts to strengthen grassroots football, improve relations among key stakeholders, and create a more conducive environment for the development of the game across the country.

He noted that while many of the reforms initiated by the federation are still in progress, their positive impact is already becoming evident within Nigeria’s football ecosystem.

“Ibrahim Musa Gusau is a man of peace who understands that football cannot thrive without harmony among stakeholders,” Akwuegbu said.

“He has shown a strong commitment to grassroots development. While some of his achievements may not be fully appreciated at this stage, their long-term impact will become clearer in the years ahead. His passion, sincerity, and dedication to Nigerian football are evident.”

Akwuegbu also pointed to what he described as gradual improvements in the country’s domestic leagues under Gusau’s administration, stressing that continuity in leadership would help consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate football development nationwide.

The former striker further argued that maintaining stability within the federation is crucial to ensuring that existing programmes and developmental initiatives achieve their intended objectives.

The NFF elective congress, where delegates will choose the federation’s leadership for the next term, is expected to be held in September 2026 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.

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