FIFA and CAF will jointly appoint the committee members, who are barred from contesting the next NFF elections, as Nigeria prepares for a new football leadership.
FIFA has approved the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the interim body required to complete its mandate no later than May 31, 2027, as the country prepares for fresh elections into the federation’s Executive Committee.
The decision was announced by FIFA on Thursday, October 22, following approval by the Bureau of the FIFA Council. FIFA confirmed the appointment in its official announcement on decisions taken after the Council’s October 15 meeting in Zurich, Switzerland.
In a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and addressed to NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the world football governing body said the committee would comprise a suitable number of members to be appointed jointly by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The letter stated that the committee’s tenure would end once it had completed its assigned tasks, but no later than May 31, 2027. It also ruled out members of the committee from contesting any positions in the forthcoming NFF elections.
Until the committee is formally constituted, the NFF Secretariat will continue to manage the federation’s day-to-day affairs and the administration of Nigerian football.
The development follows the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee on August 27. Their departures created a leadership vacuum and prompted the suspension of preparations for the elective congress initially scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Following the resignations, the National Sports Commission endorsed Ikpeme to oversee the NFF Secretariat as acting general secretary, while Ademola Olajire was appointed acting deputy general secretary.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, calling for improvements in governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player development, domestic competitions and accountability.
The federal government has since engaged FIFA and CAF in consultations aimed at establishing a framework for the transition and strengthening the administration of the sport.
The appointment of the Normalisation Committee marks a significant step towards restoring an elected leadership structure at the NFF. However, FIFA and CAF have yet to announce the names of the committee members.
The committee’s immediate challenge will be to fulfil its assigned responsibilities within the stipulated timeframe and facilitate the process leading to fresh elections.
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