NSC, NFF Congress Talks Enter Crucial Day As FIFA Deadline Nears

The meeting between the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and members of the Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will continue today in Abuja, with efforts intensifying to resolve the lingering crisis over the proposed normalisation committee.

The discussions, which began on Thursday, ended without a concrete resolution after both sides reportedly maintained their respective positions on some of the contentious issues surrounding the NFF crisis.

Sixteen members of the NFF Congress, comprising chairmen of State Football Associations, attended the meeting with the NSC leadership led by its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Bukola Olopade.

A source at the meeting said the major sticking point was the decision by the NFF Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, to dissolve the Congress by fiat.

The Congress members reportedly insisted that an apology from Ikpeme was necessary before substantive discussions could continue, arguing that the dissolution was unacceptable and had heightened tensions within the federation.

However, Dikko intervened during the meeting and appealed to the aggrieved Congress members to forgive the Acting General Secretary, saying he had already apologised on Ikpeme’s behalf.

The NSC chairman also urged the delegates to consider the circumstances surrounding Ikpeme’s action and focus on finding a way forward for Nigerian football.

Today’s meeting is expected to focus principally on the modalities for the proposed normalisation committee, but it may not produce an immediate final agreement.

The Congress representatives are expected to consult with the wider Congress and return with a collective position before any final decision is reached.

The development is coming against the backdrop of an increasingly tight timeline, with all outstanding issues relating to the proposed normalisation committee expected to be resolved before Monday, 7 September.

According to the source, the Nigerian delegation is expected to report back to FIFA in Zurich by the deadline, making the outcome of the ongoing discussions particularly significant for the country’s football administration.