The decision was approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on Thursday, 22 October 2026, following months of uncertainty surrounding the NFF’s leadership.
According to a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and addressed to NFF Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will jointly appoint the committee members as soon as possible.
Although the appointment has been approved, the identities of the members and the full details of their responsibilities have yet to be announced.
Committee given May 2027 deadline
FIFA has stipulated that the Normalisation Committee must complete its assigned responsibilities as soon as possible, with 31 May 2027 set as the latest deadline.
The committee will oversee the federation during the transition towards fresh elections for the NFF Executive Committee.
FIFA has also made it clear that no member of the Normalisation Committee will be eligible to contest any of the positions in the forthcoming NFF elections.
The restriction is intended to separate the temporary administration of the federation from the process of selecting its next elected leadership.
NFF secretariat to continue daily operations
Until the committee members are appointed, the NFF Secretariat will continue managing the federation’s day-to-day administration and the routine affairs of Nigerian football.
Emmanuel Ikpeme has been serving as acting General Secretary following the departure of the previous leadership.
The immediate administrative arrangements will therefore remain in place while FIFA and CAF finalise the committee’s composition and prepare for the next phase of the transition.
Leadership crisis triggered by mass resignations
The development follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other executive committee members on 27 August 2026.
The resignations came amid mounting pressure following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The leadership departures disrupted preparations for the NFF elective congress scheduled for 27 September in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The electoral process was subsequently suspended pending consultations with FIFA and CAF.
A joint delegation from the two football governing bodies visited Nigeria in September to engage stakeholders and assess options for addressing the crisis.
The discussions included governance reforms and the establishment of a framework to stabilise the federation and facilitate a return to elected leadership.
Tinubu calls for comprehensive football reforms
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also called for comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football following the leadership crisis.
The directive covered governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player development, domestic competitions and accountability.
The National Sports Commission, led by chairman Shehu Dikko, has been involved in discussions with FIFA, CAF and other stakeholders over the proposed reform process.
The approval of the Normalisation Committee marks a further step in those efforts, although the effectiveness of the arrangement will depend on its final mandate and implementation.
Attention turns to committee members and elections
With FIFA’s approval now confirmed, Nigerian football stakeholders will await the announcement of the committee’s members and the details of its assignment.
Key issues include stabilising the NFF administration, addressing governance concerns and establishing a credible process for fresh elections.
The committee’s mandate is expected to be temporary, with FIFA setting 31 May 2027 as the final deadline for completing its responsibilities.
For Nigerian football, the coming months will be important in determining how the federation moves from its current leadership transition towards a new elected executive committee.
Nigfooty Sports Desk