FIFA has concluded its two day fact finding mission to Nigeria, with the world football governing body now expected to announce its position on the country’s football administration and the ongoing reform efforts.
Officials of the National Sports Commission and the interim leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation were reluctant to disclose details of their meetings with the FIFA delegation.
Nigerian football has faced growing uncertainty since last month following the resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and members of his executive board. The development came after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Falcons also failed to reach the last four of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, while their failure to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup means they will miss the tournament for the first time since its inaugural edition in 1991.
The Super Eagles had earlier missed the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, while the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles also failed to qualify for their respective global tournaments during the Gusau administration.
Days after the former NFF leadership left office, the interim administration led by Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme joined NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, the Commission’s Director General Bukola Olopade and former NFF President and FIFA Council Member Amaju Melvin Pinnick on a courtesy visit to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich, Switzerland.
Although FIFA confirmed that an initial meeting had taken place, the organisation said an on the ground assessment in Nigeria was still necessary. That led to the arrival of the delegation in Abuja earlier this week.
The FIFA officials met with the National Sports Commission, including its chairman, Shehu Dikko, before holding discussions with the interim NFF leadership on Tuesday. They also met with several football stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory.
Former Green Eagles captain and football administrator Chief Segun Odegbami, who attended the meeting, described the FIFA visit as an important intervention in the efforts to reform football administration in Nigeria.
Odegbami said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere, with stakeholders openly examining the problems affecting Nigerian football.
Writing about the meeting under the title “Meeting with FIFA, foto no dey lie!”, Odegbami said members of the football community interacted like old friends and that the gathering offered renewed hope of resolving some of the longstanding administrative challenges.
He said the FIFA delegation appeared well informed about the major issues confronting Nigerian football before arriving in the country and used the discussions to gather further information that could assist its report and determine the next steps.
“The FIFA delegation, in their few remarks during the conversation, demonstrated that they know the main issues with Nigerian football pretty well,” Odegbami stated.
The former international believes the discussions could pave the way for major changes in the administration of Nigerian football.
“Reforms are coming, with or without a Normalization Committee,” he said, adding that there appeared to be broad agreement among stakeholders on the immediate issues that need to be addressed.
Odegbami also stressed that FIFA would have a key role in implementing whatever decisions eventually emerge from the reform process.
“It is also clear that only FIFA can provide the instrument to enforce any final decisions,” he said.
The football community now awaits FIFA’s report and the direction it will provide as Nigeria seeks to address the challenges surrounding the administration and development of the game.
