NFF Dismisses ‘Fake’ FIFA Letter Over Alleged Government Interference

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports that world football governing body, FIFA, demanded clarification over alleged government interference in the affairs of the federation.

The NFF, in a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday, described a purported letter circulating in sections of the media as “totally fake”.

The federation said FIFA had already accepted the resignations of its former principal officers and members of the executive committee, effectively rejecting claims that the governing body had sought explanations over the development.

“The NFF has debunked news of a ‘letter’ circulating in sections of the media as being from world football governing body, FIFA. It is totally fake. FIFA has already accepted the resignations of former principal officers and Members of the NFF Exco,” the statement read.

The denial came as a delegation of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and key Nigerian football stakeholders met FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

Former NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, whose tenure was due to expire in September, confirmed his resignation at a news conference in Abuja last Thursday.

The NFF subsequently constituted an interim administrative structure, appointing former deputy general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim general secretary and former media and communications department head Ademola Olajire as interim deputy general secretary.

The development followed mounting concerns over the state of Nigerian football, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu calling for reforms after what he described as “repeated failures”.

The NFF has come under increasing scrutiny over the performances of the country’s national and youth teams.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, missing the tournament for the second consecutive edition, while the Super Falcons also failed to secure qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup — their first absence from the competition since its inception in 1991.