World football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football have stepped into the deepening crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation, saying they are yet to decide how the federation should be restructured following the mass resignation of its top officials.
The intervention comes after NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and several members of the Executive Committee resigned on August 27 amid growing concerns over the state of Nigerian football.
The crisis had been fuelled by mounting criticism of the performances of the country’s national teams, particularly the failure of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons to qualify for their respective World Cups.
The mass resignations also came barely a month before the NFF’s scheduled September 27 election, leaving uncertainty over the leadership and electoral process of the federation.
Against this backdrop, FIFA and CAF have begun examining the legal, administrative, governance and electoral implications of the developments before determining what action to take.
In a letter addressed to the NFF Deputy General Secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, on Monday, FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, said the international body had yet to reach a conclusion despite receiving several communications from stakeholders in Nigeria.
“We refer to the various communications recently received by FIFA and CAF concerning developments within the Nigeria Football Federation, including the notifications relating to the resignation of the NFF President, members of the Executive Committee and the General Secretary, as well as additional correspondence received from other football stakeholders in Nigeria,” Mammadov said.
He also referred to a September 1 meeting at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich involving FIFA, CAF, NFF officials and representatives of the Nigerian Federal Government.
Mammadov said the meeting focused on the unfolding crisis and the possible consequences for the administration and electoral process of Nigerian football.
“FIFA and CAF are currently assessing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications arising from the current circumstances within the NFF,” he said.
The assessment, according to FIFA, will include a review of the facts surrounding the crisis, the NFF’s regulatory framework and the positions of the various stakeholders.
“This assessment requires a careful review of the relevant facts, the applicable NFF regulatory framework and the positions communicated by the various stakeholders concerned,” the letter stated.
“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.”
As part of the process, FIFA has suspended the planned September 27 NFF election, effectively putting the proposed transition of leadership on hold while the two football bodies complete their assessment.
FIFA stressed that the suspension should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any of the current positions or developments within the NFF, but was necessary to allow for further consultations with the relevant stakeholders.
The development has also put on hold speculation over the establishment of a normalisation committee to temporarily oversee the affairs of the federation.
Ikpeme, who was endorsed by the National Sports Commission as acting NFF General Secretary, was nevertheless addressed by FIFA as Deputy General Secretary in its correspondence and designated as the main contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF for the time being.
The international football bodies are now preparing to send delegations to Abuja to engage directly with key stakeholders in Nigerian football.
The delegation is expected to meet representatives of the NFF, members of the NFF Congress, the federation’s electoral bodies and officials of the National Sports Commission.
According to FIFA, the visit will enable it and CAF to gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the resignations and hear the different positions of those involved.
“The mission will allow FIFA and CAF to better understand the circumstances surrounding the recent developments within the NFF, the views of the various stakeholders and any issues that may require further consideration under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulatory framework,” FIFA said.
Following the visit and completion of its assessment, FIFA and CAF will decide whether recommendations or proposals should be presented to their respective decision-making bodies.
The football bodies, however, cautioned stakeholders against assuming what the eventual outcome would be.
“Until such time, 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,” FIFA concluded.
The intervention leaves the future leadership of Nigerian football uncertain, with the suspended election, mass resignations and the poor performance of the national teams placing the NFF at a critical crossroads.