Officials of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday commenced a joint assessment of the ongoing crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The assessment team met with Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and members of the NFF’s federating units at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The engagement follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other board members on August 27. The resignations occurred amid growing scrutiny over the performances of Nigeria’s national teams, including the failure of the senior men’s and women’s sides to qualify for their respective World Cups.
Dikko first briefed the FIFA and CAF representatives on the Federal Government’s proposed reform agenda for the sports sector. Members of the NFF Congress later joined the discussions.
The delegation is examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of recent developments within the NFF.
Key areas under review include the circumstances of the board resignations, efforts to restructure the federation’s governance, the NFF statutes, the electoral process, the composition of the Congress, a new timetable for an elective congress, and the role of government in the federation’s affairs.
FIFA stated in a recent letter that the mission would enable both bodies to better understand the circumstances surrounding the developments, the views of various stakeholders, and any issues requiring further consideration under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulatory frameworks.
The electoral process of the NFF remains suspended pending the outcome of the assessment. FIFA and CAF have not yet reached any conclusions and will make recommendations to their respective decision-making bodies after completing the review.