Football stakeholders have backed FIFA’s intervention in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), urging reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Friday that the normalisation process could address administrative challenges and restore confidence in Nigerian football.
FIFA’s Bureau of the Council approved a Normalisation Committee on Thursday to manage the NFF pending fresh elections into its Executive Committee.
The decision followed the resignation of NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, and other executive members in August, which triggered a leadership crisis and disrupted the electoral process.
FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will jointly appoint the committee members, whose mandate must end by May 31, 2027.
Bello Omotunde, a sports broadcaster, described the intervention as necessary to tackle alleged mismanagement and personal interests within the federation.
“It is a good development and something we have been hoping for because it could help change things for the better in Nigerian football,” he said.
Omotunde alleged that funds had been mismanaged and personal interests had overshadowed the effective leadership needed to develop the game.
He also expressed concern about the fire at the NFF headquarters, questioning the safety of important records and information.
Another sports broadcaster, Pius Ayinor, described the proposed normalisation process as a step towards restoring confidence in the administration of Nigerian football.
He cited Cameroon’s experience with a similar intervention, urging FIFA and other stakeholders to use the process to deliver lasting reforms.
“For at least six months, we hope the right decisions will be taken to help Nigeria return to winning ways, considering the talent available in the country,” Ayinor said.
He urged the inclusion of former players and other stakeholders in the process, stressing the need for broad participation in decisions affecting Nigerian football.
Ayinor also called for an inclusive administrative structure that would distribute responsibilities and improve the federation’s day-to-day management.
He said the exercise should go beyond replacing leaders to establish stronger accountability mechanisms and prevent excessive concentration of authority.
Raymond Nwabuda, a football enthusiast, also welcomed FIFA’s intervention, saying it could promote transparency and accountability in the federation’s administration.
He alleged that greed and personal interests among some officials had contributed to the challenges facing Nigerian football.
Nwabuda said reforms should ensure that officials prioritised the development of the game over personal interests.
He added that Nigeria’s failure to qualify for two consecutive men’s FIFA World Cups and the women’s competition had heightened concerns about the direction of the country’s football.
“It is a welcome development that could bring the necessary changes and put Nigerian football on a better path,” Nwabuda said.
The stakeholders urged those involved in the normalisation process to prioritise financial accountability, inclusive decision-making and sustainable reforms to strengthen Nigerian football.
Discussion0