FIFA demanded suspension of the NFF election congress in Nigeria
In Nigeria, FIFA demanded that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) suspend its election congress scheduled for September 27. Together with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the organization plans to conduct a fact-finding mission in Abuja, Premium Times Nigeria reports.
In a letter dated September 7, FIFA said that the assessment requires a thorough examination of the facts within the NFF regulatory framework and the positions expressed by stakeholders. According to the publication, 13 members of the NFF executive committee chaired by Ibrahim Gusau resigned at the end of August. This happened 34 days before the end of their term of office.
National team results
Premium Times Nigeria links the crisis in football governance to unsuccessful results by the national teams. Nigeria's women's national team, the Super Falcons, failed to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil: the team lost to Cameroon in the quarterfinals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and later lost to South Africa in the playoffs. After the tournament, the NFF dismissed Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu.
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The men's national team, the Super Eagles, according to the publication, missed the World Cup for the second consecutive time: the team did not qualify for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and also did not play at the 2022 World Cup. Nigeria's U-20 and U-17 teams also failed to qualify for their world championships.
Questions over funds
One of the issues raised by the publication is the use of 12 billion naira allocated by the federal government in 2024 to settle arrears in player payments and bonuses accumulated over 15 months. Premium Times Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are investigating the matter.
In November, Super Eagles players boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of a World Cup qualifying match against Gabon over payments outstanding since 2019. In April, players from the U-17 and U-20 teams said they were owed payments and bonuses for six tournaments totaling 1.5 billion naira.
