By SCM Staff Writer I Friday, October 10, 2025
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s footprint in global football governance has significantly expanded following a wave of appointments by world football-governing body, FIFA, with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and WAFU-B, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, leading the charge.
Gusau has been appointed to the influential FIFA Men’s Club Competitions Committee and has immediately declared his intent to make “robust and meaningful contributions” that will particularly benefit the African game.
“It is a recognition and honour that I do not take for granted,” Gusau stated, emphasising his commitment to justifying the confidence placed in him by the FIFA Council.
He stressed that his efforts would be geared toward the interests of Nigeria, West Africa, and the African game at large.
A Voice for African Club Football
The NFF President sees his new role as a vital platform to advocate for the continent. He joins the Men’s Club Competitions Committee, which is chaired by Jassim Rashid Al Buenain of Qatar and has Mikel Arriola of Mexico as deputy.
“I am dedicated to using my professional experience to foster robust and diverse discussions, ultimately helping the committee toward informed decision-making. Personally, I will be able to provide valuable insights from the African game,” Gusau explained.
He noted that his position within the NFF, as President of WAFU-B, and as a regional president attending the CAF Executive Committee meetings, will give his contributions “weight” and enable him to effectively advocate for Africa’s needs.
A key focus for Gusau is leveraging club football as a pathway to economic growth. “Our contributions can engender the rapid growth of football economies in those countries that are still lagging behind, as club football remains the clear pathway to achieving this everywhere,” he said.
Nigeria’s Strategic Sweep Across FIFA
Gusau’s appointment is part of a larger trend underscoring Nigeria’s growing respect in global football administration. Several other prominent Nigerians have been appointed to crucial committees, ensuring the nation’s expertise is represented across different aspects of the sport.
Amaju Melvin Pinnick, OFR, ROI, former NFF President and former FIFA Council Member, was appointed Deputy Chair of the FIFA Men’s National Team Competitions Committee, which oversees all major national team tournaments. The committee is chaired by Robert Harrison from Paraguay.
NFF Executive Committee Member, Aisha Falode, was named to the FIFA Media & Communications Committee, headed by Ivorian FA President Yacine Idriss Diallo.
Legal luminary, A. U. Mustapha (SAN), a former President of the CAF Appeal Board, was appointed to the FIFA Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee, which is chaired by Ghanaian FA President Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku.
In a display of continuity, former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, was retained as a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Council), a crucial role in maintaining integrity within the sport.
These multiple high-profile appointments provide Nigeria with an unprecedented opportunity to influence the trajectory of world football, from club structure and national team organisation to media relations and ethical governance.
