FIFA accepts Nigeria football board resignations

FIFA has accepted the resignations of board members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), ending speculation of government interference in the football body’s affairs.

The decision followed a meeting between a Nigerian delegation and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at FIFA House in Zurich on Tuesday.

The delegation was led by National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko and included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, acting NFF Secretary General Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, and NFF Director of Legal Services Okey Obi.

“At a meeting inside FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland, attended by FIFA, CAF, CAF advisors, NSC and NFF Administration, it was agreed to proceed with engagements and interactions to fine-tune a roadmap that will ensure the delivery of the expected reforms,” NFF acting Deputy Secretary General Dr Ademola Olajire said in a statement.

The meeting discussed reforms of Nigerian football, including a roadmap to ensure an inclusive new NFF emerges going forward.

Quoting the NSC Chairman, the statement said: “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 Nigerian football.”

“There is no doubt Nigerian football will emerge much better and properly structured after the conclusion of this process,” Dikko said.

The resignations of key NFF board members followed a corruption investigation by Nigeria’s secret police over the alleged misuse of 17 billion naira ($12.7 million) received from the government in 2024 to clear a backlog of payments owed to national team players and officials.

Former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau stepped down last week, advising other board members to also resign.

Source: Punch