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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Sports

NFF denies FIFA letter as Nigerian delegation meets Infantino

From The Punch · () English

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

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • The Nigeria Football Federation denied that FIFA sent a letter seeking clarification over alleged government interference, calling the document fake.
  • A Nigerian delegation led by National Sports Commission officials met FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich to discuss leadership changes and football reforms.
  • The meeting followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and executive committee members amid scrutiny of Nigerian football.

The Nigeria Football Federation says a letter circulating in the media and purportedly warning about government interference in its affairs is fake.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, the NFF said FIFA had already accepted the resignations of its former principal officers and executive committee members. “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 federation said.

The denial came as a Nigerian delegation met FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich. The group included National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, Director-General Bukola Olopade and former NFF President and former FIFA Council member Amaju Pinnick. Discussions reportedly covered the restructuring of Nigerian football, recent leadership changes and steps to move the sport forward.

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.

— Nigeria Football FederationThe federation denied a purported FIFA warning about interference in its affairs.

The talks followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and members of his executive committee. Gusau, whose term was due to end in September, confirmed his resignation at a news conference in Abuja last Thursday. The NFF then created an interim administrative structure, appointing former deputy general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim general secretary and former media and communications chief Ademola Olajire as interim deputy general secretary.

President Bola Tinubu has called for reforms after what he described as “repeated failures.” Nigeria’s Super Eagles missed the 2026 World Cup for a second consecutive time, while the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, their first absence since that tournament began in 1991. Stakeholders have also demanded changes to football administration and grassroots development.

repeated failures

— Bola TinubuThe Nigerian president used the phrase when calling for reforms in Nigerian football.
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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