FIFA Approves Normalisation Committee to Run NFF

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Bureau of the FIFA Council has approved the appointment of a normalisation committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) pending fresh elections to its executive committee.

The NFF disclosed this in a statement, citing a letter signed by FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström and addressed to Mr Emmanuel Ikpeme.

According to the letter, the committee will comprise members jointly appointed by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as soon as possible.

The committee will remain in office until it completes its assigned tasks, but its tenure must not extend beyond May 31, 2027.

The global football authority also stated that none of its members would be eligible to contest any position in the forthcoming NFF elections.

Meanwhile, the NFF Secretariat will continue to manage the federation’s daily operations and the administration of Nigerian football until the committee is appointed.

The decision follows developments in August, when former NFF President, Mr Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary, Mr Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned.

The National Sports Commission (NSC)  subsequently approved Mr Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim General Secretary and Mr Ademola Olajire as interim Deputy General Secretary, while the planned NFF elective congress was suspended pending reforms.

President Bola Tinubu had also directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, with the NSC tasked with working with the NFF and engaging FIFA and CAF on the process.