Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has congratulated the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, on his election as the 1st Vice President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) B Zone.
The Zamfara-born football administrator was elected in an election that took place in Niamey, Niger Republic, during the CAF African Schools Football Championship (WAFU B qualifying tournament) held in the country over the week.
Recall that Ibrahim Gusau was elected in September 2022 as NFF President in Benin City, and the then Edo Deputy Governor was present to declare the Congress open. Reacting to Gusau’s victory, Shaibu said he’s not surprised that the soft-spoken administrator got the seat.
Shaibu said Gusau’s election has shown that Nigeria remains a force to reckon with in football and a giant in the continent, stating categorically that Gusau is a worthy elected president.
“Gusau’s election is not a surprising happening to me. I know him, and I know what he’s capable of achieving as an administrator. He has proven that the country he governs it’s football remains a significant figure in African football and that he’s a capable individual”.
Here’s me congratulating him and also using the medium to task him to bring his expertise to the fore and help the president take WAFU-B football to an enviable level.
Gusau isn’t new to the football politics and governance in Africa as he has held several key roles in the continent’s football scene, having served as a member Organizing Committee of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and a member, CAF and FIFA Security Committee.
WAFU B Zone comprises seven countries: Nigeria, Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association, was elected as President of the WAFU B Zone, while Oumarou Sawadogo, President of the Burkinabe Football Federation, emerged as the 2nd Vice President.