FIFA, CAF begin assessment of NFF crisis

Dikko (middle) with FIFA and CAF officials

FIFA and CAF officials on Monday began assessing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the developments within the Nigeria Football Federation as they met with National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko and members of the NFF’s federating units in Abuja, The PUNCH reports.

The meeting, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, followed the mass resignation of NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other board members on August 27, amid mounting scrutiny over the performances of Nigeria’s national and youth teams, particularly the failure of the senior men’s and women’s teams to qualify for their respective World Cups.

The FIFA and CAF delegation comprised FIFA Member Association Governance Services team lead Ahmed Harraz, FIFA Head of Member Association Governance Rolf Tanner, FIFA Regional Office for West Africa lead El Hadj Wack Diop and CAF Legal Manager Nnaemeka Olu.

Dikko first met with the FIFA and CAF representatives, briefing them on the government’s proposed reform agenda for the sports sector, before other members of the NFF Congress joined the engagement.

The delegation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the mass resignation of the NFF board, efforts to restructure the federation’s governance, the NFF statutes, its electoral process, a new timetable for the elective congress and the government’s role in the affairs of the federation.

The NFF statutes have been at the centre of stakeholders’ agitation for a more inclusive federation, while the electoral process and the composition of the Congress are also expected to form part of the assessment.

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The FIFA and CAF officials are expected to engage relevant stakeholders to establish a lawful and acceptable route back to a functioning NFF Congress, with the aim of finding a lasting solution to the federation’s leadership crisis, which has repeatedly generated controversy around election periods.

Last week, FIFA had said no decision had been reached despite receiving various communications from stakeholders in Nigeria, stressing that the assessment would precede any recommendations to its decision-making bodies.

“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 in a letter sent to the NFF last week.

“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.

“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.”

The outcome of the engagements is expected to provide greater clarity on the proposed reforms, the future of the federation’s leadership and the process for restoring stability to Nigerian football.