The leadership crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation has taken a new turn after FIFA and the Confederation of African Football suspended the federation’s September 27 election and announced plans to send delegations to Abuja.
The decision followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and several members of the Executive Committee, prompting FIFA and CAF to assess the legal, administrative and governance implications of the developments.
In a letter to NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme on Monday, FIFA said it had received several communications from Nigerian football stakeholders but had yet to determine how the situation should be resolved.
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The review will cover the legal framework governing the NFF, governance and administrative issues, as well as the implications of the leadership changes for the federation’s electoral process.
The crisis erupted on August 27 when Gusau led a wave of resignations amid mounting criticism over Nigeria’s football fortunes, particularly the failure of the country’s senior men’s and women’s teams to qualify for their respective World Cups.
The upheaval came only weeks before the scheduled NFF election, raising questions over whether the electoral process could proceed under the existing circumstances.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier called for action over what he described as “repeated failures”, while the National Sports Commission moved to address the situation.
A Nigerian delegation led by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko subsequently met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials at FIFA House in Zurich on September 1.
Despite the meeting, FIFA said no final position had been reached.
“We refer to the various communications recently received by FIFA and CAF concerning developments within the Nigeria Football Federation, including the notifications relating to the resignation of the NFF President, members of the Executive Committee and the General Secretary, as well as additional correspondence received from other football stakeholders in Nigeria,” FIFA official Mammadov said.
FIFA said its assessment would require a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the resignations and the rules governing the NFF before any decision could be taken.
“This assessment requires a careful review of the relevant facts, the applicable NFF regulatory framework and the positions communicated by the various stakeholders concerned. At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps,” the statement said.
The development leaves unresolved the possibility of establishing a normalisation committee to oversee the federation during the crisis.
There is also uncertainty over the status of Ikpeme, who was endorsed by the NSC as acting General Secretary. FIFA, however, addressed him in its letter as Deputy General Secretary and asked him to remain the principal contact between the NFF and the football governing bodies.
With the September 27 election now suspended, FIFA and CAF are expected to send delegations to Abuja for consultations with key Nigerian football stakeholders.
The delegations are expected to meet representatives of the NFF, its Congress, electoral bodies and the National Sports Commission to better understand the circumstances surrounding the recent developments.
“The mission will allow FIFA and CAF to better understand the circumstances surrounding the recent developments within the NFF, the views of the various stakeholders and any issues that may require further consideration under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulatory framework,” FIFA said.
Following the Abuja consultations, FIFA and CAF will determine whether recommendations or proposals should be presented to their respective decision-making bodies.
“Following completion of this assessment process, FIFA and CAF will determine whether any recommendations or proposals should be submitted to the competent decision-making bodies within FIFA and CAF in accordance with their respective Statutes and regulations,” the statement added.
FIFA stressed that the suspension of the election should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any of the circumstances that triggered the current crisis.
The global football body said the decision was intended to provide time for FIFA and CAF to complete their assessment and consult the relevant stakeholders before determining the next steps.
“Until such time, the outcome of the assessment remains open, and no assumptions should be made as to any action that FIFA and CAF may or may not take,” FIFA concluded.
Source: Sports Archives – New Telegraph
