FIFA Accepts NFF Resignations, Supports New Football Reforms

FIFA, the global body for football, accepted the resignations of the Nigeria Football Federation’s top officials on Tuesday. They promised to keep working with the Nigerian government, the NFF, and the Confederation of African Football on a new plan to reform Nigerian football, according to the NFF.

A Nigerian team led by Shehu Dikko, who is the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other important officials on Tuesday at FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland. Other members of the delegation included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, acting NFF general secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, and NFF Director of Legal Services Okey Obi.

NFF acting deputy general secretary Dr Ademola Olajire shared a statement that FIFA supports the proposed reforms for Nigerian football.

“At a meeting inside FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland, attended by FIFA, CAF, CAF advisors, NSC and NFF Administration, it was agreed to proceed with engagements and interactions to fine-tune a roadmap that will ensure the delivery of the expected reforms both in the short, medium and long term,” the statement said. It added that the goal is to create a new NFF that is inclusive and operates in a peaceful environment to ensure success for Nigerian football.

Dikko reassured everyone involved that the reforms would be thorough and follow the necessary rules and regulations.

“Mutual engagement among the National Sports Commission, the NFF administration and the Confederation of African Football is ongoing with FIFA on the reforms of Nigerian football. We are working on a roadmap to make sure Nigerian football emerges better and properly structured after this process,” Dikko said.

This meeting with FIFA came after the mass resignation of the NFF board. President Bola Tinubu had called for changes to tackle what he described as “repeated failures.”

An interim board has been set up to lead the NFF after the resignations of President Ibrahim Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and the other 11 executive committee members. This has created a power gap in Nigerian football management.

Ikpeme, who was the deputy general secretary, is now the interim general secretary. Olajire, who used to run the NFF’s media and communications, will be the interim deputy general secretary.

Gusau, whose time in office was supposed to end in September, announced his resignation during a press conference in Abuja last Thursday.

The NFF has been under pressure due to the poor performances of Nigeria’s national and youth teams. The senior men’s and women’s teams both failed to qualify for their World Cups.

Aside from the results, the federation has also been questioned about its governance and financial management.