FIFA accepts NFF resignations, backs reform roadmap

FIFA has accepted the resignations of top officials at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and pledged to continue working with the Nigerian government, the NFF administration and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on a new roadmap for reforming the country’s football governance.

According to a statement made available by Ademola Olajire – the NFF Director of Communication, the development followed a meeting on Tuesday at FIFA House in Zurich, attended by representatives of FIFA, CAF, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the NFF. Participants agreed to continue fine-tuning a roadmap aimed at delivering reforms in the short, medium and long term, with the goal of establishing an inclusive new NFF operating in a stable environment.

Nigeria’s delegation was led by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, former NFF president Amaju Pinnick attending in his capacity as special adviser to the CAF president and deputy chairman of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams’ Competitions Committee, NFF acting general secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, and the federation’s director of legal services, Okey Obi.

CAF was represented by second vice president Kurt Okraku, alongside FIFA’s director of member associations for Africa, Gelson Fernandes.

Dikko said engagement among the NSC, NFF administration and CAF was continuing with FIFA to finalize a roadmap “in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and statutes,” adding that he was confident Nigerian football would emerge “much better and properly-structured” once the process concludes.

Another source revealed after the meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, where Nigeria’s delegation held discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other senior officials of the world football governing body that the meeting was success.

“It was a very successful meeting, and it was a great time discussing the future of Nigeria football,” the source disclosed.

It was gathered that the delegation briefed FIFA on recent developments within the Nigeria Football Federation, particularly the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and members of the NFF Executive Committee.

The talks also focused on the proposed roadmap for reforming Nigerian football, with an emphasis on ensuring that the process is carried out in consultation with FIFA and other relevant football stakeholders.

The post FIFA accepts NFF resignations, backs reform roadmap appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.