Gara-Gombe: Regime Change Will Not Fix Nigeria’s Football Crisis

Former Gombe State Football Association chairman and sports promoter, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, has declared that attempts to force a change of leadership at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not solve the country’s football problems, insisting that Ibrahim Musa Gusau is unlikely to be removed from office.

Gara-Gombe, speaking on the current state of Nigerian football, argued that the country’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup should not be blamed solely on the present NFF administration, stressing that qualification for the global tournament is a process that requires long-term planning and stability.

The outspoken football stakeholder also warned against allowing sentiment or the geographical origin of NFF leaders to influence discussions about the federation’s leadership.

“People shouldn’t put sentiment on where the leadership of the Nigerian Federation comes from. Look at the facts. Look at the issues leading to the World Cup,” Gara-Gombe said.

He questioned the circumstances surrounding Nigeria’s qualification campaign, including the number of players and coaches involved and when preparations for the qualifiers began.

“Going to the World Cup is a transition,” he stressed. “You don’t go to the World Cup in one year, you don’t go to the World Cup in two years, sometimes even three years.”

Gara-Gombe, therefore, maintained that replacing Gusau at this point would not automatically address the structural problems affecting the Super Eagles and Nigerian football generally.

“I have no regret in insisting that a regime change today, or this time in Nigerian football, cannot change anything,” he said.

“Gusau is not going anywhere. I repeat it. It’s my opinion. Come and give reasons.”

‘Where Were They When the Previous Regime Failed?’

The former Gombe FA chairman also questioned what he described as the selective criticism of the current NFF leadership, pointing out that the previous administration also failed to qualify Nigeria for the same World Cup.

He argued that the previous leadership was not only retained after that failure but was subsequently rewarded with influential positions in international football.

“Why are people muted? When the same team — his predecessor — could not qualify for the same World Cup, now they have recovered their voices,” he said.

“And at that time, we not only rewarded that regime, but we also rewarded that same president of that federation with a CAF seat and a FIFA seat.”

However, Gara-Gombe also criticised Gusau for what he described as excessive restraint in handling some of the challenges confronting the federation.

“I’m blaming Gusau also. Because sometimes it’s not good to be even a gentleman in Nigeria. You have to do it ‘ropo ropo’ before people know that you are alive and you are in charge,” he said.

He particularly referenced the controversy surrounding the Super Eagles during their stay in Morocco, arguing that the NFF president should have been more vocal in addressing the players’ concerns.

Gara-Gombe Rejects Threats

Gara-Gombe also revealed that his position on the NFF leadership has attracted hostile reactions, including private messages and alleged threats.

He appealed to those who disagree with him to engage his arguments rather than resort to intimidation.

“I am appealing to Nigerians to stop calling me. If you want to react, go and react. Stop sending me private messages to insult me because of my position or my opinion — even threatening me,” he said.

The veteran football administrator insisted that he would continue to speak according to his convictions, stressing that he was not seeking an appointment or position within the football administration.

“Once my conscience is clear, I’ve satisfied my conscience and my conviction. I say it, and I keep on saying it. Gusau is not going anywhere,” he declared.

Gara-Gombe further warned against attempts to destabilise the NFF through alleged plots involving the abduction or arrest of senior officials, describing such tactics as outdated.

He said the country needs stability in football administration rather than tactics aimed at influencing elections or removing officials.

‘I’ll Attack Gusau If He Fails Again’

Despite his strong defence of Gusau, Gara-Gombe insisted that his support is conditional on performance.

He promised to become one of the first critics of the NFF president if the administration fails to qualify Nigeria for the next World Cup after another term.

“If in his second time he didn’t qualify for the World Cup, there is no difference from what we have seen in his first time. I’ll be the first,” he said.

“I don’t have a friend when you do bad. I have a friend when you do good. And I will say it: when you do good, I will say it when you do bad.”

Gara-Gombe said he had no personal interest in defending Gusau, insisting that he was not seeking any government or football appointment.

“I’m not looking for anything. I’m comfortable. I’m not looking for an appointment. I’m not looking for a position. I have been a stakeholder. I’m still contributing my part in football.”

‘Pinnick Was a Dictator’

Gara-Gombe also took a swipe at the administration of former NFF president Amaju Pinnick, describing him as a dictator and arguing that members of the federation’s board at the time should not necessarily be blamed for decisions taken under his leadership.

“Pinnick was a dictator. So nobody in that board or in that NFA can say anything if not what he will and what he says,” he stated.

He also addressed issues surrounding player allocations, coaching appointments and the federation’s financial limitations, suggesting that some decisions were influenced by the inability to afford foreign coaches.

Regarding the coaching question, Gara-Gombe argued that the federation sometimes had to rely on local coaches due to financial constraints, and also suggested that political and personal considerations had influenced some appointments in the past.

He maintained that the current debate over the NFF leadership should focus on the facts surrounding Nigeria’s football development rather than personalities, sentiments or attempts to engineer another leadership change.

For Gara-Gombe, the immediate priority should be stability, proper planning and accountability — with Gusau given the opportunity to demonstrate whether his administration can deliver the results Nigerian football demands.