The President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has expressed deep sorrow following the death of former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Galadima, who has died at the age of 78.
In a statement released by CAF, Dr Motsepe conveyed condolences on behalf of the organization and its 54 Member Associations, describing the loss as one felt across the African football community.
His message was directed to the Nigeria Football Federation, its current President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the family of the late administrator, and the people of Nigeria.
Galadima’s death was confirmed on Saturday by sports administrator Sani Ahmed Toro, who said he passed away earlier in the day in Kano. “I regret to announce the death of our respected Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former NFA Chairman, today in Kano. May Allah reward him with Aljanna Firdausi,” Toro said.
Widely regarded as a key figure in the development of football administration in Nigeria, Galadima played a central role during a formative period for the sport’s governance.
His influence was particularly notable during the years when the governing body operated as the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), helping to shape its organisational structure alongside other leading administrators of his era.
Born in 1948 in Fagge, Kano State, Galadima began his career at the grassroots level, serving as chairman of the Kano State Football Association in the late 1970s.
His work at state level saw him rise steadily through the ranks, later becoming Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council, where he built a reputation for administrative diligence and commitment to sports development.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he held several influential roles within Nigeria’s sporting institutions, including positions in the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
These roles allowed him to contribute to policy development and organisational leadership beyond football, further solidifying his standing in the country’s sports administration landscape.
Galadima served as President of the Nigeria Football Federation from 2002 to 2006, a period during which Nigerian football continued to evolve institutionally. His tenure formed part of a broader era of transition and consolidation within the sport, as administrative systems were strengthened and modernised.
Tributes are expected from across Nigeria and the wider African football community, where Galadima is remembered as a respected and influential figure. His contributions at both state and national levels are widely seen as foundational to the structure of modern football governance in the country.
Further details regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in due course.
