FIFA Sets Up Committee to Manage Nigerian Football

FIFA has approved a Normalisation Committee to take charge of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) until new elections for its Executive Committee. This decision comes after months of uncertainty and calls for reforms in Nigerian football.

The NFF shared this news in a statement. They said the Bureau of the FIFA Council approved the committee on Thursday.

In a letter from FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström to NFF Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will work together to appoint the committee’s members.

“The normalisation committee shall consist of a suitable number of members, who will be appointed jointly by FIFA and CAF as soon as possible,” the letter said.

FIFA also set a deadline for the committee. It will end its work once it finishes its tasks but no later than 31 May 2027.

“The period during which the normalisation committee shall perform its functions shall expire as soon as it has fulfilled all of its tasks, but by no later than 31 May 2027,” the letter stated.

The NFF said this committee will oversee the federation until new elections for the Executive Committee happen. Members of the committee cannot run for any positions in the upcoming elections.

“None of the members of the normalisation committee will be eligible for the positions to be filled during the upcoming NFF elections under any circumstances,” the letter stated.

The NFF Secretariat will continue to manage daily activities and run Nigerian football until the committee members are appointed.

This decision follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and other Executive Committee members on 27 August.

Mr Gusau resigned just 34 days before the end of his four-year term, which started after he was elected in Benin City on 30 September 2022.

The resignations led to a leadership change and disrupted plans for the NFF elective congress set for 27 September in Lafia, Nasarawa State. FIFA and CAF put the electoral process on hold to discuss the federation’s future.

Emmanuel Ikpeme, a former NFF Deputy General Secretary, was named acting General Secretary to run the Secretariat. Ademola Olajire was appointed acting Deputy General Secretary.

This crisis comes at a tough time for Nigerian football. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Super Falcons did not qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. This meant Nigeria missed its chance to appear in every edition of the women’s tournament since it started in 1991.

On the same day the NFF leadership resigned, President Bola Tinubu called for major reforms in Nigerian football. He wanted changes in governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions, and accountability.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions, and accountability across Nigerian football,” Mr Tinubu said.

He asked National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko to collaborate with the NFF Secretariat and football stakeholders. He also wanted them to interact with FIFA and CAF.

On 1 September, Mr Dikko led a Nigerian team to FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to talk about the crisis and a reform plan.

The group included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, acting NFF General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, and the federation’s Director of Legal Services, Okey Obi.

CAF 2nd Vice President Kurt-Okraku and FIFA Director of Member Associations for Africa Gelson Fernandes were also part of the meeting.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino later said they discussed important issues, including governance and ways to improve Nigeria’s football structures and create opportunities for young players.

In a letter dated 7 September, FIFA and CAF told the NFF to stop its electoral process while they looked into the legal, governance, administrative, and electoral issues from the leadership crisis. They also planned to send a joint team to Abuja to meet with relevant stakeholders.

The approval of the Normalisation Committee is a new step forward. FIFA and CAF will soon name the members who will oversee the federation until their tasks are done and new elections happen.

Details about who will be on the committee and their specific duties are still to be announced. Their success will be judged on how well they stabilize the NFF, tackle governance issues, and create a clear path to elected leadership.