FIFA and CAF have wrapped up their two-day fact-finding mission in Abuja following the high-profile mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and other board members on August 27. The leadership vacuum unfolded against a backdrop of mounting public frustration over the poor performances of Nigeria’s national teams, notably the failure of both the senior men’s and women’s squads to qualify for their respective World Cups.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The high-level joint delegation featured FIFA Member Association Governance Services team lead Ahmed Harraz, FIFA Head of Member Association Governance Rolf Tanner, FIFA Regional Office for West Africa lead El Hadj Wack Diop, and CAF Legal Manager Nnaemeka Olu. During their visit, the team held extensive consultations with key local stakeholders, including the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), players, coaches, and referees.

Deep Divisions Over the Path Forward

Stakeholders presented sharply contrasting blueprints for restructuring Nigerian football, leaving global governing bodies facing a complex decision:

• Calls for Normalisation and Equal Representation: Player representatives, coaches, and referees strongly advocated for a FIFA-led normalisation process. They pushed for balanced representation and equal voting rights across the NFF Congress, board, and standing committees.

• The Ex-Administrators’ Petition: A powerful coalition of former NFF presidents and general secretaries—including Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Aminu Maigari, Obinna Ogba, Fanny Amun, Sani Toro, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, and Musa Amadu—submitted a petition backing a six-month normalisation committee. Their proposed roadmap outlines a transition starting with stakeholder talks, moving through local council and State FA elections, expanding the NFF Congress, and culminating in national elections. They specifically targeted the current power structure, noting that State FAs currently wield roughly 84% of voting power, and demanded greater inclusion for leagues, players, coaches, referees, and grassroots bodies.

• State FA Resistance: Conversely, State FA chairmen—who form the bulk of the NFF voting bloc—vehemently opposed a normalisation committee. Led by Gombe State FA chairman Yakubu Sarma, they argued that domestic leagues are active, clubs are competing continentally, and the secretariat remains functional, meaning the federation is not technically in crisis and can resolve the vacancy through established frameworks. However, insiders note this stance may clash with standard FIFA statutes.

FIFA and CAF will now carefully evaluate these conflicting proposals to determine the ultimate regulatory roadmap for restoring stability to the Nigeria Football Federation.