World football governing body FIFA has accepted the resignations of the principal officers of the Nigeria Football Federation, paving the way for a comprehensive roadmap aimed at reforming and restructuring Nigerian football.
The development was announced by the National Sports Commission following a meeting at FIFA House in Zurich involving representatives of the NSC, FIFA, the Confederation of African Football and the NFF administration.
The meeting focused on determining the next steps towards what the NSC described as an “enabling an inclusive, peaceful and stable football administration in Nigeria capable of delivering greater sustainable success for Nigerian football off and on the pitch.”
The development comes days after the mass resignation of former NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the NFF Executive Committee.
It also provides fresh clarity on FIFA’s position following the circulation of a purported letter claiming that the world governing body had threatened Nigeria with suspension over alleged government interference in the running of the federation.
The NFF had earlier dismissed that document as “totally fake”, insisting that it did not originate from FIFA.
The latest confirmation from the NSC now establishes that FIFA has accepted the resignations, while discussions over the future structure of Nigerian football are continuing.
READMORE: NFF debunks alleged FIFA letter threatening Nigeria with suspension
According to the NSC, the reform process will cover the short, medium and long term, with the objective of building what it described as a stronger and properly structured Nigerian football ecosystem.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko led the Nigerian delegation to the meeting in Zurich.
Dikko said the ongoing engagement with FIFA and CAF would help establish a clear roadmap for the reform process in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and statutes.
The NSC said the process is intended to produce a more inclusive, peaceful and stable football administration, with the ultimate objective of achieving sustainable success both on and off the pitch.
The latest development effectively moves the Nigerian football crisis from a leadership dispute towards a broader restructuring exercise.
Gusau’s resignation on August 27 had been presented as a step towards allowing a comprehensive and orderly reform of Nigerian football.
Following the departures, the National Sports Commission endorsed Emmanuel Ikpeme, a former NFF Deputy General Secretary, to oversee the federation’s secretariat as interim General Secretary, while Ademola Olajire was named interim Deputy General Secretary.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
The NFF also suspended preparations for its elective congress pending the completion of the reform programme being discussed with FIFA and CAF.
The new roadmap will have implications not only for the federation’s immediate administration but also for its electoral process and the wider governance structure of Nigerian football.
