Chief Gabriel Chukwuma, a former Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and owner of Gabros International FC, has strongly criticized the current leadership of Nigerian football, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for the declining state of the sport in the country.
In an interview with our correspondent, Chukwuma expressed frustration over the NFF’s failure to secure a top-tier manager for the Super Eagles ahead of their crucial 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Rwanda and Benin Republic. He lamented that with just days to these important matches, the team still lacks the leadership it needs.
Chukwuma voiced his dissatisfaction with Gusau’s tenure, citing recent failures such as the Super Falcons’ poor performance at the Paris Olympics, where they lost all their group matches and failed to advance. He also criticized the NFF’s consideration of hiring Janne Andersson, a coach with a track record of underperformance, having failed to qualify Sweden for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
Additionally, Chukwuma highlighted the problematic decision to potentially appoint another local coach who previously mishandled the team’s chances in a prior Nations Cup. He suggested that Gusau and his team appear to lack a coherent strategy, leading to their apparent failure.
Chukwuma advised Nigerian football fans to set their sights on the 2030 FIFA World Cup rather than the 2026 edition in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He believes that the current NFF’s mismanagement has severely compromised Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the upcoming World Cup.
He also urged the federal government to reconsider its investment in the current World Cup campaign and instead redirect funds towards preparing for the 2030 World Cup, emphasizing the need for a more strategic approach moving forward.
