Ibrahim Gusau Warns Nigerian Coaches Against Taking National Team Jobs Without Contracts

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Ibrahim Gusau has cautioned Nigerian coaches against accepting roles in the national team setups without first signing formal contracts, describing the practice as a recurring problem for the federation.

Gusau issued the warning during a chat with Segun Odegbami on Eagles 7 FM, stressing that several coaches have worked with national teams without documentation and later returned to demand unpaid salaries and bonuses.

“It is wrong for any coach to join the national team without signing a contract. This is because at the end of the day you have no evidence of working for the NFF,” Gusau said.

“So many coaches have bombarded us with claims that we are owing them money, and I ask them to show me evidence, but none of them can produce one.

“I cannot use NFF funds, which is public money, to pay for something that is not contracted or documented. Coaches like the late Christian Chukwu and many others complained they were owed money, and I always asked them to show evidence.”

Gusau admitted that the issue has become persistent and insisted that stronger structures must now be put in place to avoid similar disputes in the future.

“This has become a problem, and we must begin to put things in proper perspective,” he added.

However, the warning comes amid long-standing criticism of the NFF over unpaid salaries and bonuses owed to coaches and players. Just last week, reports emerged that the federation is allegedly owing Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle three months’ salary, despite having a valid contract.

Addressing the broader financial challenges facing the NFF, Gusau explained that the federation often struggles with cash flow, as funds from FIFA, CAF, sponsors, and the Federal Government do not always arrive when urgently needed.

“It is only when we have money that we can pay,” the NFF president stated.

The comments have reignited debate around contract transparency, financial management, and welfare within Nigerian football, particularly concerning the treatment of coaches serving the national teams.

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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