A joint delegation from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has arrived in Abuja to assess the leadership and governance crisis currently affecting the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The four-member delegation is expected to spend two days in Nigeria, holding consultations with key stakeholders as part of efforts to find a way forward for the country’s football governing body.
The visit comes after FIFA suspended the NFF electoral process and put on hold the Elective Congress earlier scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The decision followed a wave of resignations within the federation on August 27, involving several senior officials, including former NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi and members of the Executive Committee.
The departures created an administrative vacuum within the federation and prompted intervention from the international football governing bodies.
FIFA and CAF had subsequently designated NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, as the contact person responsible for coordinating administrative matters and logistics during the interim period.
The current mission also follows consultations held on September 1 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, involving representatives of the Federal Government, the National Sports Commission and the NFF leadership.
The delegation is expected to begin its engagements with a meeting with officials of the National Sports Commission before proceeding to discussions with NFF management and staff.
Further consultations are expected to involve members of the NFF administration, selected congress delegates, the federation’s electoral committee and senior government representatives.
The NFF has also selected 27 stakeholders to participate in a separate meeting with the FIFA-CAF delegation at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The participants include chairmen of State Football Associations, representatives of coaches, referees and players, as well as officials from clubs competing in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO).
The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for FIFA and CAF to hear directly from various stakeholders and examine the issues surrounding the NFF’s leadership crisis.
For now, Dr Ikpeme will continue to serve as the designated contact person while the international delegation carries out its assessment and consultations.
The outcome of the mission could determine the next steps towards resolving the leadership dispute and restoring a clear
