The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has approved the establishment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) until fresh elections are conducted, with the committee’s mandate expected to end no later than May 31, 2027.
The Bureau of the FIFA Council approved the move at a meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, following the mass resignation of the NFF executive board in August.
In a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and addressed to the NFF Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA stated that the committee would comprise a suitable number of members to be appointed jointly by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as soon as possible.
According to the letter, the committee will remain in office until it has completed its assigned responsibilities, but not beyond May 31, 2027.
FIFA also stipulated that members of the Normalisation Committee would not be eligible to contest positions in the forthcoming NFF elections.
Pending the appointment of the committee, the NFF secretariat will continue to handle the federation’s day-to-day administration and the management of Nigerian football.
The approval marks a significant development in efforts to address the crisis within Nigerian football, which intensified in August following the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the other members of the executive board.
The resignations came amid mounting concerns over the performances of Nigeria’s national teams. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons’ reported failure to secure qualification for the next Women’s World Cup added to the pressure surrounding the federation’s leadership.
With FIFA’s approval now secured, attention has shifted to the appointment of committee members who will oversee the federation’s affairs and prepare it for fresh elections before the end of the committee’s mandate.
The appointments are expected to be closely watched by Nigerian football stakeholders as the country seeks a new leadership structure for the administration of the game.
