FIFA Withholds Decision on NFF Crisis, Plans Joint Assessment Visit to Nigeria

Posted : 08 September 2026

FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have withheld a final decision on the leadership crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The two governing bodies will instead conduct a joint assessment in Nigeria before determining the next steps.

The position was contained in a letter dated September 7 and signed by FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov. The letter was addressed to NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme after FIFA, CAF, NFF officials and Nigerian government representatives met in Zurich on September 1.

FIFA and CAF said they are reviewing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the developments within the federation. They stressed that no conclusions have been reached and no decision has been made on what action may follow.

As part of the review, FIFA and CAF have ordered the NFF's ongoing electoral process to remain suspended. This effectively puts the planned September 27 Elective Congress in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on hold while the assessment continues.

The directive follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation's Executive Committee. Gusau said his resignation was intended to create room for a comprehensive reform process to address longstanding governance and development concerns.

The NFF subsequently placed Emmanuel Ikpeme in charge of the federation's secretariat on an interim basis. It also suspended the electoral preparations and said a fresh process would follow discussions with FIFA, CAF, the government and other stakeholders.

FIFA and CAF will now send a joint assessment mission to Abuja at the earliest opportunity. The delegation is expected to meet NFF officials, members of the federation, electoral bodies and Federal Government representatives, including officials of the National Sports Commission.

The consultations are intended to give the international bodies a clearer understanding of the circumstances behind the leadership changes. They will also examine the different positions of stakeholders and how the situation fits within FIFA, CAF and NFF regulations.

The latest development is significant because it keeps several possible outcomes open. FIFA and CAF have not approved a Normalisation Committee, endorsed a caretaker arrangement or cleared the current electoral process to resume.

The crisis comes after a difficult period for Nigerian football. The Super Eagles missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time since the tournament began.

For now, Nigerian football remains in an interim phase. FIFA and CAF have made clear that the electoral process will remain frozen until their assessment is completed, with the eventual direction of the NFF leadership structure still undecided.

FIFA Withholds Decision on NFF Crisis, Plans Joint Assessment Visit to Nigeria

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