Dikko Leads NFF Delegation to FIFA as Monidafe Calls for Football Reform

Posted : 01 September 2026

National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko has led a Nigerian delegation to FIFA headquarters in Zurich as the country begins a new phase of football administration following the mass resignation of Nigeria Football Federation leaders.

Dikko travelled with NFF Acting Secretary General Emmanuel Ikpeme and legal unit official Okey Obi. The delegation is expected to brief FIFA officials on the resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.

Gusau announced his resignation on August 27 after growing pressure over the performance of Nigeria’s national teams and wider concerns about football administration. The NFF later confirmed that Sanusi and all Executive Committee members had also stepped down, with Gusau saying the move was intended to create room for a comprehensive reform process.

The leadership crisis comes after a difficult period for Nigerian football. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons missed the 2027 Women’s World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history. The developments have increased pressure for changes in the way Nigerian football is governed.

Dikko’s meeting with FIFA is therefore expected to provide the global governing body with an official account of the changes and help clarify the next steps for the NFF. The timing is also important because the federation’s elective congress is scheduled for September 27, creating a short window for decisions on the transition and future leadership.

While the federation deals with its leadership shake-up, former Nigeria international Francis Monidafe has called for a broader role for ex-internationals living in the diaspora. The United States-based former Green Eagles player and president of the Nigerian Ex-International Footballers Association said former players should be involved more actively in discussions about rebuilding the sport.

Monidafe argued that the knowledge and experience of former internationals abroad have often been left outside major football policy discussions. He believes their involvement could provide fresh ideas as Nigeria considers changes to its football structures.

He also welcomed the NPFL’s new commercial agreement with EUROMATCH. The three-year deal is worth $7.5 million, or $2.5 million per season, and 60 per cent of the sponsorship revenue is expected to go to the league’s clubs to support player welfare and wages.

Monidafe described the agreement as an important step for the domestic game and praised former NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye for securing the deal. He said stronger finances for the league should ultimately improve the professional environment for players.

However, Monidafe said commercial progress must be matched by credible leadership and an open process for choosing football administrators. He backed Gusau’s decision to resign but urged stakeholders to focus on building a system that gives qualified Nigerians from different parts of the football community a fair opportunity to contribute.

Dikko Leads NFF Delegation to FIFA as Monidafe Calls for Football Reform

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