By Opeyemi Adelakun
The leadership crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation has entered a new phase after FIFA and the Confederation of African Football suspended the federation’s September 27 election and announced plans to send officials to Abuja.
The decision followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and several Executive Committee members, leaving FIFA and CAF to assess the legal and administrative implications of the changes.
In a letter to NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme on Monday, FIFA said it had yet to determine how the situation should be resolved, despite receiving several communications from Nigerian football stakeholders.
The governing body’s review covers the legal framework of the NFF, governance questions, administrative issues and the implications for the electoral process.
The crisis erupted on August 27 when Gusau led a wave of resignations amid intense criticism of the country’s football fortunes. Particular concerns centred on the inability of Nigeria’s senior men’s and women’s teams to secure qualification for their respective World Cups.
The upheaval came only weeks before the scheduled NFF election, increasing uncertainty over whether the electoral process could proceed under the existing circumstances.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier called for action over what he termed “repeated failures”, while the National Sports Commission moved to address the situation.
A Nigerian delegation led by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko subsequently held talks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials at FIFA House in Zurich on September 1.
Despite that engagement, FIFA said no final position had emerged.
“We refer to the various communications recently received by FIFA and CAF concerning developments within the Nigeria Football Federation, including the notifications relating to the resignation of the NFF President, members of the Executive Committee and the General Secretary, as well as additional correspondence received from other football stakeholders in Nigeria,” Mammadov said.
FIFA explained that its review would involve a detailed examination of the circumstances and the rules governing the NFF before any decision could be taken.
“This assessment requires a careful review of the relevant facts, the applicable NFF regulatory framework and the positions communicated by the various stakeholders concerned. 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”, the statement said.
The development means that the possibility of setting up a normalisation committee remains unresolved.
There is also uncertainty over the status of Ikpeme, who was endorsed by the NSC as acting General Secretary. FIFA, however, addressed him in its letter as Deputy General Secretary and asked him to remain the principal contact between the NFF and the two continental and global football authorities.
The September 27 election has now been put on hold.
FIFA said the suspension should not be interpreted as approval of any of the circumstances that led to the current crisis, but rather as a step to allow FIFA and CAF to complete their assessment and consult key stakeholders.
The next phase will take place in Nigeria, with FIFA and CAF delegations expected in Abuja to meet representatives of the NFF, its Congress, electoral bodies and the National Sports Commission.
“The mission will allow FIFA and CAF to better understand the circumstances surrounding the recent developments within the NFF, the views of the various stakeholders and any issues that may require further consideration under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulatory framework.”
After the Abuja consultations, FIFA and CAF will decide whether recommendations or proposals should be forwarded to their respective decision-making bodies.
“Following completion of this assessment process, FIFA and CAF will determine whether any recommendations or proposals should be submitted to the competent decision-making bodies within FIFA and CAF in accordance with their respective Statutes and regulations.”
For now, the international bodies have left all options open, warning stakeholders not to draw conclusions about what action may eventually be taken.
“Until such time, 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”, FIFA concluded.
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