FIFA has accepted the mass resignations of NFF officials and agreed to continue consultations on a roadmap for reforming Nigerian football. FIFA has formally accepted the mass resignations of the principal officers of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and agreed to continue consultations with the federation on a comprehensive roadmap for reforming Nigerian football.
The development followed a high-level meeting at FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland, on Tuesday, led by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and attended by representatives of FIFA, CAF, the NSC, the NFF administration and CAF advisers.
The meeting focused on fine-tuning a roadmap for Nigerian football reforms covering the short, medium and long term, with all parties agreeing on the need to create an inclusive and stable NFF capable of delivering improved results on and off the pitch. The discussions come after the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and eight members of the Executive Committee, which left the federation without its elected leadership.
FIFA’s acceptance of the resignations removes a major uncertainty surrounding the next phase of Nigeria’s football transition, while further engagements are expected to determine the structure and timeline of the reform process. Dikko said the reform process would continue through consultations between the NSC, NFF, CAF and FIFA, with the objective of establishing a new and properly structured federation.
“Mutual engagement among the National Sports Commission, the NFF administration and the Confederation of African Football is ongoing with FIFA on the comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football, including agreeing on a roadmap going forward in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and statutes,” Dikko said. “There is no doubt Nigerian football will emerge much better and properly structured after the conclusion of this process.”