FIFA is still deliberating on the proposed composition of a Normalisation Committee for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with Nigerian football stakeholders awaiting an official decision on the federation’s leadership crisis.
A member of the FIFA delegation that recently visited Nigeria said no final decision had been reached on the proposed committee, which is expected to oversee the federation’s administration during the transition towards elected leadership.
The uncertainty follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s executive committee in August 2026, leaving Nigerian football facing a significant governance challenge.
In response, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) dispatched a joint delegation to Nigeria in September to consult stakeholders and assess the administrative, legal and electoral implications of the crisis.
The delegation met representatives of various groups within Nigerian football before returning to FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, where deliberations on the way forward have continued.
Expectations that FIFA would announce its decision during its October 15 Council meeting were not met, leaving stakeholders waiting for clarification on the proposed transitional arrangement.
The Normalisation Committee option has emerged as a key proposal for addressing the leadership vacuum. If approved, the committee is expected to oversee administrative reforms, address governance concerns and establish a framework for restoring elected leadership to the NFF.
However, its membership, mandate and proposed timeline remain subject to official confirmation by FIFA.
Earlier reports suggested that the committee could begin work in November 2026 and remain in place until May 2027. Those dates have yet to be formally confirmed.
The outcome of FIFA’s deliberations is expected to shape the next phase of the NFF leadership transition, with stakeholders seeking a resolution that restores administrative stability and provides a clear path towards elected governance.
Until FIFA makes an official announcement, the composition and timetable of any Normalisation Committee remain uncertain.
