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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Sports

FIFA accepts NFF mass resignations, backs NSC-led reform

From The Punch · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • FIFA accepted the resignations of Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the federation’s executive committee members.
  • FIFA agreed to continue working with Nigerian authorities, the NFF, and the Confederation of African Football on a roadmap for comprehensive reforms.
  • The changes follow President Bola Tinubu’s call for action after what he described as repeated failures in Nigerian football.

FIFA has accepted the mass resignation of Nigeria Football Federation officials and backed a reform process led by the National Sports Commission, according to the NFF.

A Nigerian delegation led by National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko met FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials at FIFA House in Zurich. The delegation included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, acting NFF General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme and NFF Director of Legal Services Okey Obi.

The meeting agreed that FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, the NSC and the NFF administration should continue discussions on a roadmap for short-, medium- and long-term reforms. The stated aim is to establish an inclusive new NFF and create a peaceful, stable environment for success on and off the pitch.

At a meeting inside FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland, attended by FIFA, CAF, CAF advisors, NSC and NFF Administration, it was agreed to proceed with engagements and interactions to fine-tune a roadmap that will ensure the delivery of the expected reforms both in the short, medium and long term, and to ensure that an inclusive new NFF emerges going forward, with an enabling environment that is peaceful and stable to deliver success both on and off the pitch for the benefit and growth of Nigerian football.

— NFF statementThe statement described the agreement reached at the FIFA meeting on reforms to Nigerian football.

Dikko said the reforms would follow the relevant rules, regulations and statutes. “There is no doubt Nigerian football will emerge much better and properly structured after the conclusion of this process,” he said.

The meeting followed the resignation of Gusau, Sanusi and the 11 other members of the NFF executive committee. The departures created a power vacuum after Tinubu called for action over what he described as repeated failures. Ikpeme has been appointed interim general secretary, while acting NFF deputy secretary Ademola Olajire will continue in an interim role.

There is no doubt Nigerian football will emerge much better and properly structured after the conclusion of this process.

— Shehu DikkoThe National Sports Commission chairman described the expected outcome of the reform process.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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