No Kangaroo Committee Can Save Gusau, his NFF Jesters - Give Us Emenalo News

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No Kangaroo Committee Can Save Gusau, his NFF Jesters - Give Us Emenalo

By Obiako Chris Okechukwu on August 20, 2026

Nigeria is simply a theatre of drama, where drama kings and queens excel in different ramifications and dispositions.

To many observers, both locally and internationally, in Nigeria, it's one day, one drama.

If it's not Nigeria's chief comedian, Nyesom Wike, telling us that if he had led the APC 'army' to invade Osun State, the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, would have been history, it'd be Ebonyi chief jester, David Umahi, telling Nigerians that he is the king of Igboland.

Then, enters...the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials led by their embattled President, Ibrahim Gusau, joined the bandwagon of these jokers and town criers, is hardly a surprise.

For the first time in the annals of FIFA Women's World Cup Finals, as well as Nigeria's football, Our Senior Women's Team, the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals.

It's pertinent to note that the Super Falcons had attended ALL the past editions of this elite competition, which was flagged off in 1991, until last week when they were stopped by South Africa.

For the first time in the history of our football, our U - 17 men Team, the Golden Eaglets, missed three World Cup Championships in a row.

It is important to point out that Nigeria have the best record in the FIFA U - 17 World Cup, winning the tournament a record five times (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015) and finishing as runners-up 3 times.

The statistics are staggering:

Nigeria: 5 titles

Brazil: 4 titles

Ghana: 2 titles

Mexico: 2 titles

Germany: 1 title

France: 1 title

It's also worthwhile to point out that for the first time in Nigeria's football, all the National Teams failed to qualify for major global tournaments (FIFA Men's and Women's Senior World Cups, Olympic Games, U-20 Men's World Cup, U - 17 Men's World Cup).

And one man was in charge of Nigeria's football when this catastrophic and traumatic era panned out.

And that man is Ibrahim Gusau.

And that same man, instead of resigning, and handing our disabled football over to sound technocrats, turned around and went on a wild goose chase - appointing his friends and fellow 'beer parlour enthusiasts' to what he branded fact-finding committee.

A critical look at the line-up of these committee members tells the story of how low Gusau's reasoning has sunk.

The chairman, Fanny Amun, it'll be recalled, was the 'wobbling and fumbling' coach who failed to deliver the 1995 U-20 FIFA World Championship ticket, coming third in the African Youth Championship - a competition Nigeria hosted.

Check out another of the committee member: Ladan Bosso.

This is a coach who has failed woefully and serially with the youth national teams. He is notorious for his lack of continental or global trophies, as well as his archaic 'kick and follow' coaching tactics.

Football stakeholders are scandalised. Millions of Nigerian fans are not satisfied.

Among many questions they raised are: Why is Chief Segun Odegbami MON, not in this committee? Why is Sunday Oliseh not in this committee?

Why is Florence Omagbemi not in the committee?

Why bring a lily-livered Mutiu Adepoju into the framework, when you have a well-lettered, fire-spitting Emeka Ezeugo on the sidelines?

ENOUGH OF THIS RIGMAROLE, GIVE US MICHAEL EMENALO

Michael Emenalo was a former Super Eagles defender. He was part of Clemens Westerhof's history- making Eagles that made waves in the 1994 FIFA World Cup Finals in USA.

Since he hung his boots, his metamorphosis has been sublime.

Undoubtedly, this football-structure builder remains the right man to become the next NFF President and turn the fortunes of Nigeria's dead football around for the better.

His experience is overwhelming:

Director of Development, FC Tucson Soccer Academy, USA — 2006–2007.

Chelsea of England Chief Scout — 2007–2010.

Chelsea of England Assistant First-Team Coach — 2010–2011, working under Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea of England Technical Director — 2011–2017.

AS Monaco of France Sporting Director — 2017–2019.

Saudi Pro League's first Director of Football — 2023–2026.

Wherever a child's finger is pointing, a popular adage posits, if his father is not there, his mother will be there.

The ONLY name on the lips of millions of Nigerian fans presently is Michael Emenalo.

This tried and tested football technocrat is the solution to Nigeria's paralyzed and pathetic football.

Nigerians - from all the nooks and crannies of this country and across the globe - are unanimous in saying: "Enough of this window-shopping. Enough of this shadow-chasing. Enough of this senseless, baseless and rudderless rigmarole. Give us Michael Emenalo.

“The truth is that the mess in Nigerian football is so bad that you ask yourself is it worth it to try [to help solve the problems… But history may not forgive us if we don’t speak out… When you say the truth, you make enemies.” - Jay-Jay Okocha, speaking to Mikel John Obi in Lagos.

I have known Jay-Jay for roughly 25 years now. The two BBC Africa Footballer of the Year awards he got, in Tunis and Bolton, had their ceremonies organised by me. He and his colleagues really need to raise their voices, about the pathetic state Nigerian football finds itself in. And be a part of the solution.

Everybody kept saying Italy didn’t qualify for World Cup. Former Italian Football Federation president, Gabriele Gavina April 2, 2026 honourably resigned after Italy's failure to qualify.

Source DailySports Nigeria

Posted August 20, 2026