FIFA has approved the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) until fresh elections are held to elect a new Executive Committee.
The NFF confirmed the development in an official statement, referencing a letter signed by FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström and addressed to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme.
According to FIFA, the committee will consist of an appropriate number of members to be jointly appointed by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as soon as possible. Its primary responsibility will be to manage the federation’s affairs and guide Nigerian football through the transition to a new leadership structure.
The committee will remain in office until it completes its assigned responsibilities, with its mandate set to expire no later than May 31, 2027. FIFA has also made it clear that none of its members will be eligible to contest any position in the upcoming NFF elections, a measure intended to separate the transitional administration from the electoral process.
Until the committee is formally constituted, the NFF Secretariat will continue to manage the federation’s daily operations and oversee the administration of Nigerian football.
Leadership Crisis Triggers FIFA Intervention
The decision follows a period of significant uncertainty within Nigerian football administration. In August, former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned, creating the need for an interim leadership arrangement.
In response, the National Sports Commission (NSC) approved Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim NFF General Secretary and Ademola Olajire as interim Deputy General Secretary. The planned NFF elective congress was also suspended as authorities considered reforms aimed at addressing the federation’s administrative challenges.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently called for comprehensive reforms in Nigerian football, directing the NSC to work with the NFF and engage FIFA and CAF to determine the way forward.
FIFA’s latest decision represents a significant step in that process, with the Normalisation Committee expected to oversee the federation until the necessary tasks are completed and fresh elections can take place.
The coming months will be crucial for Nigerian football as stakeholders work towards restoring stability, strengthening the federation’s administration and establishing a new leadership team capable of guiding the sport forward.
With the committee’s mandate limited to May 31, 2027, at the latest, attention will now turn to the joint appointment of its members and the reforms needed to ensure a smooth transition to an elected NFF Executive Committee.