FIFA Set For Abuja Visit Over NFF Crisis

​World football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football are preparing to dispatch a high-level delegation to Abuja to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation.

​The impending mission follows the dramatic mass resignations of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and other members of the Executive Committee. The clear-out was triggered by intense backlash over the national teams’ string of failures, most notably the senior men’s and women’s teams missing out on their respective World Cup qualifications.

​Following a high-stakes meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich between a Nigerian delegation led by National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA emphasized that no final determination has been reached regarding the governance structure.

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​While the NSC has pushed for an interim framework to implement sweeping structural reforms, FIFA has formally suspended the NFF’s planned September 27 elective congress. The international body stated that the temporary halt does not validate current local actions but is required to properly review legal, governance, and electoral frameworks alongside local stakeholders.

​Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme has been directed to serve as the primary administrative contact between the NFF, FIFA, and CAF until the assessment concludes and a definitive roadmap is established.