NFF Crisis: FIFA Suspends September 27 Election, Begins Fresh Assessment

The future of the Nigeria Football Federation remains uncertain after FIFA suspended the NFF election scheduled for September 27 and commenced an assessment of the circumstances surrounding the recent leadership crisis within the federation.

According to Ireporter Online, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football said they were reviewing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the developments following 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 addressed to NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme on Monday and signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov.

The resignations occurred on August 27 amid growing concerns over the performance of Nigeria’s national and youth teams, including the failure of the senior men’s and women’s teams to qualify for their respective World Cups.

The development came only weeks before the NFF election, prompting the National Sports Commission to intervene following President Bola Tinubu’s call for action over the state of Nigerian football.

On September 1, an NSC delegation led by its Chairman, Shehu Dikko, met FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to discuss the situation.

However, FIFA and CAF said no final decision had been reached regarding the next steps.

Mammadov said the two football bodies were examining the facts, the NFF’s regulations and the positions presented by the various stakeholders as part of their assessment.

“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,” he said.

FIFA consequently suspended the September 27 election to allow the assessment and consultations with relevant stakeholders to continue.

The world football governing body also clarified that the suspension should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any of the developments within the NFF.

FIFA further stated that any proposal to establish a normalisation committee for the federation would remain on hold while the assessment is ongoing.

In the meantime, FIFA directed Ikpeme to remain the main point of contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF until further notice.

The organisation also announced plans to send a delegation to Abuja to meet with NFF officials, members of the NFF Congress, the federation’s electoral bodies and representatives of the National Sports Commission.

The meetings are expected to help FIFA and CAF gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the leadership changes and the views of the various stakeholders.

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

FIFA, however, stressed that the outcome of the process remained open and warned stakeholders against making assumptions about any action that may eventually be taken.

“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,” the football body stated.