FIFA and the Confederation of African Football have directed the Nigeria Football Federation to suspend its ongoing electoral process and announced plans to send a joint assessment mission to Abuja as they examine the leadership and governance crisis within Nigerian football.
The directive was contained in a letter dated September 7 and signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, and addressed to NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme. The letter, copied to CAF, said both football bodies were assessing the “legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications” arising from recent developments within the NFF.
The assessment follows communications received by FIFA and CAF concerning the resignations of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, members of the Executive Committee and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, as well as correspondence from other Nigerian football stakeholders.
FIFA and CAF also referred to a September 1 meeting at FIFA House in Zurich involving representatives of FIFA, CAF, the NFF administration and the Federal Government of Nigeria. “FIFA and CAF are currently assessing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications arising from the current circumstances within the NFF,” the letter said.
It added that the review would consider the relevant facts, the NFF’s regulatory framework and the positions presented by different stakeholders. “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 letter stated.
The directive reinforces an earlier decision by the NFF to suspend preparations for its elective congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State. FIFA and CAF specifically instructed the NFF administration not to take any further steps connected to the electoral process until their assessment is completed.
“Furthermore, and without prejudice to the outcome of the ongoing assessment, FIFA and CAF request that the ongoing electoral process be suspended and that no further steps or decisions be taken in connection to that process until further notice,” the letter said.
The two bodies said the measure was intended to maintain the current situation while they completed their review and engaged relevant stakeholders. “This request is made in order to preserve the status quo while FIFA and CAF complete their assessment of the current situation and engage with the relevant stakeholders,” the letter added. The NFF was also directed to communicate the decision to all relevant stakeholders, including its electoral bodies.
FIFA and CAF said they would send a joint assessment mission to Abuja “at the earliest possible opportunity” to meet representatives of the NFF administration, NFF members, electoral bodies and the National Sports Commission. “The purpose of this mission will be to engage with the relevant stakeholders and gather the information necessary to enable FIFA and CAF to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation,” the letter said.
Ikpeme was asked to coordinate logistics and facilitate meetings with the relevant stakeholders. FIFA and CAF said the outcome of the assessment would determine whether recommendations or proposals should be submitted 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,” the letter said.
They also cautioned stakeholders against drawing 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.” The intervention follows the resignation of Gusau on August 27, just 34 days before the end of his four-year tenure.
Sanusi and members of the NFF Executive Committee also resigned, creating a leadership vacuum within the federation. The NFF subsequently appointed Ikpeme to oversee the secretariat as Acting General Secretary, while Ademola Olajire became Acting Deputy General Secretary.
The federation also suspended its electoral process and directed the leadership of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One to hand over their administrative responsibilities as part of interim measures. The crisis followed a difficult period for Nigerian football, including the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
President Bola Tinubu, on the same day Gusau resigned, directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football covering governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability. He also directed the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF and other football stakeholders while engaging FIFA and CAF.
The latest FIFA-CAF intervention follows the September 1 meeting in Zurich, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino met a Nigerian delegation led by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko. According to the account of the meeting, discussions focused on institutional governance, football development and ways FIFA could support stronger structures and development pathways in Nigeria.
The planned Abuja mission is expected to allow FIFA and CAF to hear directly from the various stakeholders before deciding whether further action or recommendations are necessary. For now, the NFF election scheduled for September 27 remains suspended pending the outcome of the joint FIFA-CAF assessment.
