FIFA has accepted the resignations of key Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials and agreed to continue working with Nigerian football authorities on a comprehensive reform plan.
The decision followed a high-level meeting at FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland, on Tuesday involving representatives of FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the NFF.
The meeting also included CAF advisers and focused on developing a roadmap for short-, medium- and long-term reforms aimed at restructuring Nigerian football.
New Roadmap in the Works
According to the parties, further consultations will continue to fine-tune the reform programme and establish the framework for an inclusive NFF administration.
The process is also expected to create a more stable and peaceful environment for football governance in Nigeria, with the broader objective of improving the country’s performance both on and off the pitch.
The Nigerian delegation was led by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade.
Former NFF President and ex-FIFA Council member Amaju Pinnick also attended in his official capacity as Special Adviser to the CAF President and Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Men’s National Teams’ Competitions Committee.
Representing the NFF were Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme and Director of Legal Services Okey Obi.
CAF’s delegation included Second Vice-President Kurt-Okraku, while FIFA was represented by its Director of Member Associations for Africa, Gelson Fernandes.
Dikko: Nigerian Football Will Emerge Stronger
Dikko said discussions between the NSC, NFF, CAF and FIFA would continue as the stakeholders work toward an agreed reform framework.
He said the process would be guided by the applicable football statutes, regulations and rules, expressing confidence that the outcome would leave Nigerian football better organised and more effectively structured.
“Mutual engagement among the National Sports Commission, the NFF administration and the Confederation of African Football is ongoing with FIFA on the comprehensive reforms of Nigeria football,” Dikko said.
He added that the stakeholders were working toward a roadmap that would provide the foundation for sustainable improvements in Nigerian football.
The latest development signals the beginning of a broader reform process, with FIFA, CAF and Nigerian football authorities now expected to work together on the structure and implementation of the proposed changes.