By Ado Salisu
Sports administrator and football stakeholder, Alhaji Gara Gombe, has dismissed efforts to unseat Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, insisting that those plotting against him will not succeed.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Gombe described Gusau as the legitimate leader of the NFF and expressed confidence that he would complete his tenure despite growing criticism of the federation’s leadership.
He argued that Nigeria’s possible failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup should not be blamed solely on the current NFF administration, noting that previous football administrations also failed to secure qualification but were allowed to continue in office.
“We may fail to qualify for the World Cup, but that does not mean the NFF leadership should be changed.
“Football development is a process, and people should assess the facts rather than allow sentiment to guide their opinions,” Gombe said.
According to him, Gusau inherited numerous challenges within Nigerian football and deserves adequate time to implement reforms before his administration is judged.
Gombe further alleged that some individuals were attempting to destabilise the NFF by employing tactics similar to those used during previous football administration crises, including efforts to force leadership changes through external interference.
“It will not work. Gusau is not going anywhere. He will come back because the process is different now, and football administration must be allowed to remain stable,” he stated.
The outspoken football administrator also condemned the threats and insults directed at him over his support for the NFF president, stressing that he would continue to express his views based on conviction rather than personal interest.
He maintained that he has no personal agenda or ambition for political appointments, adding that he would continue to commend football administrators and government officials when they perform well and criticise them when they fall short of expectations.
Gombe, however, said his support for Gusau does not amount to a blank cheque, noting that he would not hesitate to criticise the NFF president if the administration fails to improve Nigerian football during a second term.
