…Governing body says no decision yet on Nigeria’s next football leadership
World football governing body FIFA has suspended further steps in the Nigeria Football Federation’s electoral process as it begins a fresh assessment of the leadership crisis that has engulfed Nigerian football.
FIFA and the Confederation of African Football are examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the mass resignation of the NFF’s leadership before deciding what happens next.
The development effectively puts the planned September 27 NFF election on hold, with FIFA warning that no further electoral activities should proceed until further notice.
In a letter addressed to NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, said the governing body had not reached any conclusion on the way forward despite receiving communications from several stakeholders.
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FIFA said its assessment would involve a review of the relevant facts, the NFF regulatory framework and the positions presented by the various parties.
“At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps,” Mammadov said.
The crisis followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the Executive Committee on August 27.
The mass resignation came amid intense scrutiny of Nigeria’s football administration following a series of disappointing results, including the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The NFF had subsequently placed its electoral process on hold, while the National Sports Commission endorsed Ikpeme to oversee the federation’s secretariat as interim General Secretary and Ademola Olajire as interim Deputy General Secretary.
However, FIFA’s latest intervention has taken the crisis into a new phase.
A Nigerian delegation led by National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko met FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials at the FIFA House in Zurich on September 1 to discuss the situation.
FIFA and CAF have now announced plans for a joint mission to Nigeria to engage stakeholders and obtain further information before making recommendations.
The delegation is expected to meet representatives of the NFF, members of the NFF Congress, electoral bodies and the National Sports Commission.
According to FIFA, the mission is intended to establish the circumstances surrounding the resignations, understand the positions of the various stakeholders and determine whether any issues require further consideration under FIFA, CAF and NFF regulations.
FIFA has also made Ikpeme its primary point of contact with the two continental and global football bodies for the duration of the assessment.
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The development puts the possibility of an immediate normalisation committee on hold, as FIFA and CAF have yet to determine whether such an intervention is necessary.
FIFA stressed that its decision to suspend the electoral process should not be interpreted as an endorsement or rejection of any action taken by the Nigerian authorities or football stakeholders.
It also warned stakeholders against assuming what the final outcome of the assessment would be.
“The outcome of the assessment remains open, and no assumptions should be made as to any action that FIFA and CAF may or may not take,” Mammadov said.
The intervention leaves Nigerian football facing a period of uncertainty, with the country’s next substantive football leadership now dependent on the outcome of the FIFA and CAF assessment.
