FIFA don appoint caretaker committee to run Nigerian football until May 2027

FIFA don approve caretaker body to run Nigerian football and organise fresh elections into di Nigeria Football Federation executive committee.

Na di Bureau of di FIFA Council take di decision, according to one letter from FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström wey e address to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme. Di NFF announce am through im communications department on Thursday.

Di body, wey dem dey call normalisation committee, go get members wey FIFA and di Confederation of African Football (CAF) go choose together. Di letter talk say di two bodies go make di appointments "as soon as possible".

Im tenure go end once e don complete im tasks, and in any case no later than 31 May 2027. Dem bar members of di committee from contesting di coming NFF elections "under any circumstances".

Until dem name di committee, di NFF secretariat go keep handling di federation daily administration and di running of di country football.

Why e matter

Di move follow leadership crisis for di NFF. President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other executive committee members resign on 27 August 2026.

Their exit come amid heavy criticism after Nigeria fail to qualify for di 2026 FIFA World Cup and di Super Falcons miss out on di 2027 Women's World Cup.

Di resignations leave vacuum at di top and disrupt preparations for NFF elections wey dem bin set for 27 September.

For ordinary Nigerians, di fallout touch more than pride. Football na di country biggest sport and source of national identity, and di men and women teams dey bring revenue and sponsorship. A federation wey dey in disarray fit slow decisions on coaches, funding and di organisation of domestic leagues and national team fixtures.

Wetin happen next

FIFA and CAF go name di committee members. Di committee go then run di NFF and prepare fresh elections, with im mandate capped at 31 May 2027.

Di sources no talk when di new elections go hold or who dem dey consider for di committee.