Sports Chiefs Clash Over Who Leads NFF Interim Committee After Board Resignation

Fresh crisis has hit Nigerian football administration as top chieftains of the National Sports Commission (NSC) are reportedly locked in a fierce disagreement over who should be appointed to lead the NFF Normalisation Committee.

The internal rift comes on the heels of the dramatic resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and executive board members. The mass exit followed months of mounting public pressure triggered by consecutive national team failures including the Super Eagles missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons failing to qualify for the 2027 World Cup as well as ongoing probes by security agencies into the handling of N17 billion in federal intervention funds.

With the executive board dissolved, the NSC moved to institute an interim Normalisation Committee to oversee football affairs and prepare the groundwork for fresh elections. However, efforts to establish the body have hit a brick wall due to a political showdown between NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade.

Both sports administrators are divided into opposing camps, each pushing competing candidates to head the temporary panel. The deadlock has stalled key decisions, leaving stakeholders and fans in a state of uncertainty as the country awaits an official resolution on who will steer Nigerian football out of its administrative crisis.