The task to advance football in Nigeria has been given to Alhaji Ibrahim Gusua, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, by Sunday Dare, the minister of sports.

When the NFF leadership paid him a courtesy call yesterday in his office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, Dare delivered this charge.

According to the Minister, football serves as an uniting factor in Nigeria and is a national asset. The Federal Government, via his Ministry, is interested in seeing it grow and thrive.

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau stated that he will collaborate with anyone who wants to see Nigerian football develop.

“By the grace, Nigeria will see a lot changes, in the stage of football the past eight years of Amaju Pinnick have been very turbulent for the board due to so many litigations. But by the grace of God, I will do anything possible to bring every shareholder together, to sit down at the table and see how we can agree amongst ourselves“.

Ahmed Yusuf "Fresh," RabiuInuwa, Aisha Falode, the Hon. Margaret Icheen, the Hon. EssienUdofot, and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi were also present as members of the new NFF leadership.

What needs to be the new board's top priority right away?

Aisha Falode, the chairwoman of the NWFL, and Felix AnyansiAgu, the first vice president, both provide their viewpoints.

“Now we go the grassroots and we will see a lot of Nigerian girls who are interested in playing the games and get involved from the nursery stage. We must rise above where we are now. Where we are now is not where we ought to be, that is not to say we are not making progress”.

Jide Olaniran and KunleSolaja, two football journalists living in Lagos, also shared their thoughts on the new board's expectations.

“Our domestic football has gone down drastically and it needs serious restructuring, the league needs to be repackaged and I want an NFF president that will look beyond the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, so I want them to concentrate more on domestic football because that is the foundation of the super eagles, flying eagles and super falcons and other national teams”.