FIFA and CAF Freeze NFF Elections as Leadership Crisis Deepens

FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have halted the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) election process and will send a joint fact-finding team to Nigeria as the federation’s leadership crisis deepens.

FIFA and CAF suspend election process

1. The decision followed a series of changes inside the NFF, including the departure of its president, several Executive Committee members and the General Secretary.
2. In a joint message to the NFF, FIFA and CAF said they were still examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral consequences of those developments and had not yet drawn any conclusions.
3. The statement was signed by FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov.
4. FIFA, CAF, NFF officials and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria had already met at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on September 1 to discuss the crisis and its potential consequences for the federation.
5. FIFA and CAF said their review remained incomplete, stressing that no decision had been made about possible further measures.
6. While the examination continues, the NFF Deputy General Secretary has been appointed as the main liaison between the federation and the two international governing bodies.
7. The NFF was also instructed to stop its current electoral exercise with immediate effect.
8. FIFA and CAF said no additional action or decision linked to the election should be taken until they issue further notice, while making clear that the request did not prejudge the result of their review.
9. They explained that the suspension was intended to maintain the existing position while they assess the situation and consult the relevant parties.
10. The two organisations added that the freeze should not be regarded as a judgment on whether decisions or actions taken by any of the stakeholders during the crisis were valid.

Assessment mission planned for Abuja

1. FIFA and CAF plan to dispatch a joint assessment mission to Abuja at the earliest opportunity to speak with those involved and collect material for a full examination of the crisis.
2. The delegation is expected to hold discussions with the NFF administration, NFF members, the federation’s electoral committees and the Federal Government, including the National Sports Commission (NSC).
3. Its work will include determining how the recent events unfolded, hearing the positions of the different stakeholders and identifying matters that may need additional review under FIFA, CAF and NFF rules.
4. After the mission has completed its assessment, FIFA and CAF will decide whether recommendations or proposals should be referred to their respective decision-making bodies.
5. Until that process is finished, both organisations said the final outcome remains undecided and warned that no assumptions should be made about whether they will take further action.

The NFF’s electoral process is therefore suspended while FIFA and CAF investigate the leadership dispute and prepare to engage directly with the principal stakeholders in Nigeria.