Gusau praises Tinubu’s leadership as tributes flow for Nigeria’s football legends

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for his unwavering commitment to honouring Nigeria’s sporting heroes—past and present.

Speaking through NFF Executive Committee member George Aluo on Monday evening, Gusau praised President Tinubu’s leadership in ensuring that Nigerian athletes are celebrated and rewarded for their contributions to the nation’s sporting legacy.

“Mr. President has taken the bull by the horn to abolish the era when the nation’s sports heroes laboured in vain,” Gusau said. “Their sweat is now well-rewarded as deserved.”

He pointed to the recent gestures made by the federal government such as the national honours, cash rewards, and housing grants awarded to the Super Falcons following their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco.

He also referenced the commendable recognition of the Super Eagles after their runner-up finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Our heroes deserve all the recognition, appreciation, and celebration that we can give them whether they are alive or dead. This is the culture that we should birth and nurture,” he added.

Gusau also lauded Tinubu’s remembrance of fallen football greats, including tributes to former national team captain Christian Chukwu and other late legends who contributed immensely to the development of the sport in Nigeria.

“I salute all those who have deemed it fit to honour ‘Chairman’ Chukwu and the other legends,” he said.

“They were warriors. They defended our colours, inspired our youth, and lifted our spirits. We will never forget their amazing contributions to Nigeria football.”

The remarks come amid a renewed national effort to institutionalize respect and recognition for Nigeria’s sports figures, reinforcing a legacy of appreciation long overdue in the country’s sporting history.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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