FIFA has approved the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), paving the way for administrative reforms and fresh elections following months of leadership uncertainty.
The approval was announced on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after the Bureau of the FIFA Council endorsed the committee’s appointment. FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will jointly select its members, who are expected to be appointed as soon as possible.
According to a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and addressed to NFF Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, the committee’s mandate will end once it completes its assigned responsibilities, but no later than May 31, 2027.
The committee will oversee the federation during the transition and prepare the ground for fresh elections into the NFF Executive Committee. FIFA has also stipulated that none of its members will be eligible to contest any of the positions in the forthcoming elections.
Pending the appointment of the committee, the NFF Secretariat will continue managing the federation’s day-to-day activities under Ikpeme’s leadership.
The decision follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee on August 27. The resignations disrupted preparations for the NFF elective congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The leadership crisis prompted consultations between FIFA, CAF, the National Sports Commission and Nigerian football stakeholders. President Bola Tinubu also directed comprehensive reforms aimed at improving governance, administration, accountability and development across Nigerian football.
The appointment of the Normalisation Committee is expected to provide a temporary governance structure while addressing outstanding administrative and electoral concerns.
However, FIFA and CAF are yet to announce the committee’s membership. Its effectiveness will depend on restoring stability, addressing governance challenges and organising credible elections within the stipulated timeframe.