FIFA president Gianni Infantino met a Nigerian delegation headed by National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman Shehu Dikko at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, where FIFA confirmed its acceptance of the resignations submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation’s principal officers and pledged to support a broad reform programme for the country’s football.
FIFA and Nigeria agree reform framework
The meeting brought together representatives of FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), their advisers, the NSC and NFF administrative officials. The participants agreed to keep developing a reform roadmap covering the immediate, medium-term and long-term future, with the objective of building an inclusive NFF and creating the stability required for Nigerian football to progress both on and off the field.
The delegation in Zurich included:
- NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade;
- former NFF president Amaju Pinnick, who attended as a special adviser to the CAF president and as deputy chairman of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams’ Competitions Committee;
- NFF acting general secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme;
- NFF director of legal services Okey Obi;
- CAF second vice-president Kurt Okraku; and
- Gelson Fernandes, FIFA’s director of member associations for Africa.
Dikko said discussions between the NSC, the NFF administration and CAF were continuing with FIFA on a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian football. He added that the parties were working on a forward plan consistent with the applicable rules, regulations and statutes, and expressed confidence that the sport would emerge from the process better organised and more effectively structured.
Infantino outlines areas for cooperation
In a post on Instagram after the talks, Infantino said he was pleased to welcome the Nigerian representatives and to bring their discussions into line with FIFA’s vision for the game in the country.
The FIFA president said the agenda included institutional matters, governance, development and existing joint projects. He highlighted the importance of improving football structures and creating clearer pathways that would give more young players the chance to participate and progress.
Infantino also said FIFA had identified additional areas in which it could help expand football in Nigeria.
He wished the Falconets and the Flamingos success at the forthcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, while thanking the Nigerian delegation for its time, ideas and readiness to cooperate in moving the country’s football forward.
Infantino’s message after the meeting
In his written message, Infantino said he had been glad to meet the delegation led by Dikko at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters for substantial discussions and to establish a shared direction for Nigerian football.
He said the conversation examined institutional, governance and development issues alongside ongoing cooperation. Infantino reiterated the call for stronger foundations and better routes into the game for young people, adding that the meeting also considered how FIFA could provide further assistance to football in a country with a deep passion for the sport.
He again sent his best wishes to @ng_superfalcons before the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and thanked the full Nigerian team for its time, contributions and constructive intention to work jointly on the next stage of Nigerian football.
