National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has provided details of Tuesday’s high-level meeting involving FIFA, the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Zurich, Switzerland.
The meeting focused on the next phase of comprehensive reforms in Nigerian football following the mass resignation of the NFF’s principal officers.
Dikko led the Nigerian delegation to FIFA House, where discussions centred on developing a clear roadmap for the short-, medium- and long-term administration of football in the country.
According to the NSC Chairman, FIFA has accepted the resignations of the NFF’s principal officers and agreed to continue consultations with the Nigerian Government, the NFF administration and CAF on the reform process.
Dikko said the meeting provided an opportunity for all stakeholders to establish a framework capable of delivering a more inclusive, stable and properly structured football administration.
“Mutual engagement among the National Sports Commission, the NFF administration and the Confederation of African Football is ongoing with FIFA on the comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football, including the agreement of a roadmap in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and statutes,” Dikko stated.
He added that the process is intended to create an enabling environment for Nigerian football to achieve sustainable success both on and off the pitch.
“There is no doubt that Nigerian football will emerge stronger and better structured after the conclusion of this process,” the NSC Chairman said.
The meeting brought together key representatives of FIFA, CAF, the NSC and the NFF administration.
The Nigerian delegation included the NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade; former NFF President and former FIFA Council Member Amaju Pinnick, who attended in his official capacity as Special Adviser to the CAF President and Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Men’s National Teams’ Competitions Committee; NFF Acting General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; and NFF Director of Legal Services, Okey Obi, Esq.
CAF was represented by its Second Vice-President, Kurt Okraku, while FIFA’s Director of Member Associations for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, also participated.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was present at the meeting.
The parties agreed to continue consultations and engagements aimed at refining the reform roadmap, with emphasis on ensuring that a new and inclusive NFF emerges in an atmosphere of peace, stability and sound governance.
The ongoing process is expected to shape the next chapter of Nigerian football administration while ensuring that the proposed reforms remain consistent with FIFA, CAF and NFF statutes and regulations.
