Peterside Idah Claims NFF Presidency After Ibrahim Gusau's Resignation

Posted : 28 August 2026

Former Nigeria international Peterside Idah has claimed he should become the next president of the Nigeria Football Federation following Ibrahim Gusau's resignation. Idah made the claim hours after Gusau announced his immediate departure from the position on Thursday.

Speaking in an interview with Brila Media, Idah argued that his position in the 2022 NFF presidential election makes him the person who should take over the federation. He said he was the second candidate in that election and should therefore be handed the presidency.

“They should hand over the position to me now. I'm the second in line. I contested as number two. They should hand over to me. I should be the authentic president now of the NFF,” Idah said.

Idah's comments followed a major leadership shake-up at the NFF. Gusau resigned on August 27, alongside General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation's Executive Committee, according to the NFF's official statement.

Gusau's resignation came 34 days before the scheduled end of his four-year tenure. He was elected NFF president in September 2022 after defeating Idah in a runoff vote in Benin City.

The 2022 election result does not, however, establish Idah as Gusau's automatic successor. Gusau won the runoff by 39 votes to one after the first round failed to produce a candidate with the required majority.

Idah had refused to withdraw from the runoff while several other candidates stepped aside. His latest comments therefore revive an old political contest within Nigerian football, but the actual process for replacing Gusau will depend on the NFF's statutes and the decisions of its Congress.

Gusau said his resignation was intended to create room for a comprehensive reform process. The NFF president said the decision followed consultations with his family, friends and football stakeholders and was taken in what he described as the overriding interest of Nigerian football.

The leadership crisis follows a difficult period for Nigeria's national teams. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons missed qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup for the first time in the tournament's history.

The timing also creates uncertainty around the NFF's electoral calendar. The federation had been preparing for an elective congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, before the latest resignations changed the leadership landscape.

Idah's declaration adds another layer to the unfolding NFF crisis. His claim will now face the federation's constitutional and electoral processes as stakeholders determine how Nigerian football will be governed after Gusau's departure.

Peterside Idah Claims NFF Presidency After Ibrahim Gusau's Resignation

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