FIFA Appoints Committee to Oversee Nigeria Football Federation Until Elections

The Bureau of the FIFA Council has approved a Normalisation Committee to oversee the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) until new elections are held. The NFF shared this news in a statement, referencing a letter from FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström addressed to Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme.

The committee will include members chosen by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This selection will happen as soon as possible. The committee’s role will end once it completes its tasks, but it must finish by May 31, 2027.

FIFA also noted that none of the committee members can run for any position in the upcoming NFF elections. Meanwhile, the NFF Secretariat will continue to manage daily operations and the administration of Nigerian football until the committee is in place.

This decision comes after significant changes in the NFF leadership in August, when former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, along with other executive committee members, resigned. Following this, the National Sports Commission appointed Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim General Secretary and Ademola Olajire as interim Deputy General Secretary. The planned NFF elections have been put on hold until reforms are made.

Additionally, President Bola Tinubu has called for a thorough reform of Nigerian football, with the National Sports Commission tasked to collaborate with the NFF and engage FIFA and CAF in this process.