FIFA Takes Drastic Action, Suspends NFF Election Amid Leadership Crisis

The future of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) remains uncertain after FIFA suspended the federation’s September 27 election and commenced an assessment of the issues surrounding the recent leadership crisis.

According to Bush Radio Academy, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are reviewing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the developments that followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other members of the Executive Committee.

The position was contained in a letter sent on Monday to NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov.

Gusau and several other senior NFF officials resigned on August 27 amid mounting concerns over the performance of Nigeria’s national teams. The development followed the failure of the senior men’s and women’s teams to qualify for their respective World Cups and came only weeks before the federation’s scheduled election.

The National Sports Commission subsequently became involved in efforts to address the situation after President Bola Tinubu called for action over what he described as recurring problems within Nigerian football.

On September 1, an NSC delegation led by its Chairman, Shehu Dikko, met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, where the NFF crisis was discussed.

However, FIFA said the discussions and other communications from Nigerian stakeholders had not yet produced a final decision.

Mammadov stated that FIFA and CAF were examining the facts of the situation, the NFF’s regulations and the positions presented by the various stakeholders before determining the appropriate course of action.

He stressed that neither FIFA nor CAF had reached any conclusion regarding possible next steps.

The assessment has also placed any proposed move to establish a normalisation committee for the NFF on hold.

Despite the NSC’s endorsement of Ikpeme as acting General Secretary, FIFA referred to him as Deputy General Secretary in its communication and directed him to remain the principal contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF until further notice.

FIFA explained that the September 27 election had to be suspended to allow sufficient time for the assessment and consultations with relevant stakeholders. It also clarified that the suspension should not be interpreted as approval of any of the developments within the NFF.

As part of the process, FIFA and CAF are expected to send representatives to Abuja to engage with the NFF, members of the NFF Congress, the federation’s electoral bodies and officials of the National Sports Commission.

The planned meetings are expected to provide FIFA and CAF with a broader understanding of the circumstances surrounding the crisis, the positions of the various stakeholders and issues that may require further consideration under the applicable regulations.

Following the assessment, FIFA and CAF will determine whether recommendations or proposals should be presented to their respective decision-making bodies.

The world football governing body, however, cautioned stakeholders against assuming what its eventual decision or that of CAF would be, stressing that the outcome of the assessment remains open.