5-Thing FIFA’s Normalisation Committee Must Resolve In Nigerian Football

FIFA has approved the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following the resignation of former president Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s executive board on 27 August 2026.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council approved the committee on Thursday, 22 October, with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) expected to appoint its members jointly.

The committee will oversee the federation pending fresh elections and must complete its assigned tasks no later than 31 May 2027. Its members will not be eligible to contest positions in the forthcoming NFF elections. 

Beyond restoring leadership, the committee faces fundamental questions about the governance, electoral system and administration of Nigerian football.

Here are five major issues the committee will need to address.

1. Restore constitutional leadership and conduct credible elections

The committee’s immediate responsibility will be to stabilise the NFF following the mass resignation that created a leadership vacuum and disrupted the electoral process.

It must establish a clear transition process and prepare the federation for fresh elections within FIFA’s stipulated timeframe.

The challenge will be to ensure that the election is transparent, credible and acceptable to the various interest groups in Nigerian football.

The committee will also need to review the electoral framework and address disputes that could undermine the legitimacy of the next executive board.

FIFA has made it clear that the committee’s mandate is temporary and tied to the completion of its assigned tasks, including the process leading to fresh elections. 

2. Reform the NFF electoral system and balance stakeholder representation

The composition of the NFF Congress and the distribution of voting power have been contentious issues in the debate over football governance.

State football association chairmen wield considerable influence in the electoral process, prompting calls from some stakeholders for a broader representation of clubs, players, coaches, referees and other football constituencies.

Reform advocates argue that the electoral structure should reflect the interests of the wider football community rather than concentrate influence in a few groups.

The committee will need to examine the electoral code, identify areas requiring reform and determine which changes can be implemented under its mandate.

However, any fundamental changes to the NFF statutes and Congress structure will need to follow the applicable rules and approval procedures. The committee cannot simply disregard the federation’s constitution or FIFA requirements.

The central question is how to achieve a more inclusive electoral system without undermining the legitimate rights of existing Congress members. 

3. Review the NFF statutes and strengthen accountability

The leadership crisis has renewed calls for a comprehensive review of the rules governing the administration of Nigerian football.

The committee will be expected to examine the NFF’s governance structures, administrative procedures and accountability mechanisms to identify weaknesses that require correction.

The review could cover the respective powers of the federation’s executive board and Congress, financial oversight, administrative responsibilities and procedures for resolving internal disputes.

National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko previously said the proposed reform programme would include rebuilding the NFF electoral code and system to make the process more transparent.

However, the scope of the committee’s eventual reforms will depend on its formal terms of reference and the applicable FIFA and NFF regulations.

The objective will be to establish clearer rules and stronger safeguards against governance disputes recurring after the return of an elected board. 

4. Address concerns over domestic leagues and football administration

The crisis extends beyond the NFF leadership to wider concerns about how football competitions and development structures are administered.

The committee will need to examine the relationship between the federation and the bodies responsible for organising domestic competitions, alongside the management of state and grassroots football structures.

Issues requiring attention include administrative efficiency, competition integrity, promotion and relegation procedures, the development of young players and the responsibilities of the various football authorities.

A review of these structures could help identify where clearer regulations, stronger oversight and more professional administration are needed.

However, a normalisation committee operating under a limited mandate may not have enough time to implement every proposed reform. It will therefore need to distinguish between urgent administrative changes and longer-term measures that should be handed over to the incoming elected leadership.

The wider objective is to ensure that governance reforms translate into improvements in the organisation and development of football across Nigeria.

5. Rebuild confidence among stakeholders and protect Nigerian football’s interests

The committee will inherit a divided football community, with stakeholders holding different positions on the best way to resolve the crisis.

Some state football association officials have favoured a return to elected leadership through the existing structures, while reform advocates have called for a broader overhaul of the system.

The committee will need to engage these competing interests, establish confidence in its decisions and demonstrate that its actions are guided by its mandate rather than the ambitions of individuals or factions.

It must also maintain effective communication with FIFA, CAF, the NFF Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the transition complies with football’s governing regulations.

A further consideration is the relationship between government involvement and football autonomy. FIFA’s rules require member associations to manage their affairs independently, making it important that the committee operates within the framework approved by the world governing body.