The future of football administration in Nigeria is now in the hands of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a two-day assessment mission in Abuja.
A four-member FIFA-CAF delegation concluded consultations with major stakeholders after holding meetings on September 14 and 15 in a bid to understand and address the crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The delegation comprised FIFA officials Ahmed Harraz, Rolf Tanner and El Hadj Wack Diop, alongside CAF Legal Manager Nnaemeka Olu.
The mission followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee on August 27.
The mass resignations subsequently halted the federation’s electoral process and intensified calls for changes to the structure and administration of Nigerian football.
FIFA had described the visit as a fact-finding and consultation exercise designed to establish the circumstances surrounding the leadership changes and gather views that could guide subsequent decisions.
During their stay, the representatives met officials of the National Sports Commission, the NFF secretariat and electoral bodies, as well as representatives of State Football Associations, leagues, clubs, players, coaches and referees.
Former NFF officials, club owners, sponsors, supporters, sports journalists, former internationals and members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria also participated in the consultations.
Among the matters expected to feature in the next phase are the NFF statutes, the composition of Congress, electoral procedures and representation of the different groups within Nigerian football.
There has also been speculation about the possibility of a Normalisation Committee overseeing the transition and reform process.
However, neither FIFA nor CAF had confirmed such an arrangement at the conclusion of the Abuja meetings.
The National Sports Commission has said it will continue discussions with FIFA, CAF, NFF stakeholders and other relevant parties as the reform process progresses.
The commission is expected to communicate the outcome of the consultations to FIFA leadership for consideration.
Meanwhile, the NFF secretariat remains under an interim arrangement led by Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme.
The duration and eventual status of the interim administration will depend on the decisions reached within the applicable football governance framework.
Stakeholders have called for changes that would give a wider range of football constituencies a meaningful role in the federation’s decision-making process.
Some proposals have focused on reviewing the composition of the NFF Congress and strengthening representation across the country’s football ecosystem.
Any changes, however, would have to comply with the NFF statutes and the regulations and decisions of FIFA and CAF.
For now, the suspended electoral process remains a major unresolved issue.
The outcome of the FIFA-CAF assessment is expected to provide clarity on the leadership transition, the future of the electoral process and whether broader structural reforms will be required.
