FIFA and CAF assess Nigeria football leadership crisis

FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have begun a joint assessment mission in Nigeria to evaluate the ongoing leadership crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The delegation, which arrived in Abuja on Sunday, September 14, 2026, is conducting a two-day engagement scheduled for September 14 and 15 to consult with key stakeholders. The mission follows the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and other board members on August 27, 2026. The resignations occurred amid mounting pressure over the poor performance of Nigeria's national football teams, including the failure of both the senior men's and women's teams to qualify for their respective World Cups. FIFA and CAF officials met with National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko and members of the NFF Congress at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The delegation is examining the legal, governance, administrative, and electoral implications of the NFF crisis. Their assessment includes reviewing the circumstances of the mass resignation, the federation's statutes, its electoral process, and the government's proposed reform agenda.