Uncertainty trails FIFA decision on NFF normalisation committee

By Tosin Omojola

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is awaiting clarification from FIFA following Thursday’s FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, amid uncertainty over whether the proposed Normalisation Committee to resolve Nigeria’s football leadership crisis was approved.

The FIFA Council held its 37th meeting on October 15, 2026, with discussions covering football development funding, governance reforms and disciplinary procedures.

However, FIFA’s official statement on the meeting did not indicate whether the Council approved the proposed committee for Nigeria.

The meeting attracted considerable interest in Nigeria following the August resignations of former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s executive board.

A joint delegation from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) subsequently visited Nigeria in September to consult stakeholders and explore possible solutions to the crisis.

One option reportedly under consideration is the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to temporarily manage the federation, implement reforms and organise elections. Reports suggested the proposal could be considered under the FIFA Council’s miscellaneous agenda.

Nigerian football stakeholders are now awaiting official clarification on whether the committee will be appointed, its proposed membership and the timeline for restoring elected leadership.

As of the time of filing this report, FIFA had not publicly confirmed the committee’s approval or announced any appointments.
FIFA’s next official communication is expected to provide further clarity on the future of Nigerian football administration.