Nigeria: FIFA and CAF launch mission in Abuja regarding NFF

The two organizations are examining the administrative, legal, and electoral implications of the resignations that occurred at the top of the federation. The mission commenced with discussions involving the NFF administration and representatives from its structures in the Nigerian capital.

FIFA and CAF had requested that representatives from the federal administration, NFF members, electoral bodies, as well as the federal government and the National Sports Commission be heard. These consultations are intended to precede any potential recommendations to the relevant bodies of both organizations.

The electoral process of the NFF remains suspended during this evaluation. In a correspondence dated September 7, FIFA clarified that no conclusions had yet been reached regarding the measures to be taken and that no assumptions should be considered as established until the mission is complete.

The crisis began with the resignation of Ibrahim Musa Gusau from the presidency of the NFF, followed by the resignation of Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi and the departure of several executive committee members. The federation subsequently announced that FIFA had accepted these resignations and that discussions would continue with CAF, the Nigerian government, and the federal administration to outline a roadmap for reforms.

The federal election originally scheduled for the end of September is therefore on hold. The suspension will remain in effect until the evaluation conducted by FIFA and CAF is completed and no new formal guidance has been communicated to stakeholders in Nigerian football.

A preliminary meeting regarding this roadmap took place on September 1, 2026, at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, with representatives from FIFA, CAF, the National Sports Commission, and the NFF administration.