NFF: Mustapha favoured as FIFA sets up Normalisation Committee

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) AbdulHakeem Uthman Mustapha has been named chairman of the FIFA-approved Normalisation Committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Mustapha, a former president of the CAF Appeal Committee and a serving member of the FIFA Anti-Racism Committee, emerged as chairman ahead of Barrister Christopher Green, who was backed by state FA chairmen.

The Bureau of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Council approved the committee on Thursday, October 22, in a letter signed by FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström and addressed to the NFF’s acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme. The normalisation committee would take over the administration of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and oversee the process leading to fresh elections into its executive committee.

Its mandate is to manage the NFF’s affairs and conduct fresh elections into its Executive Committee. Its tenure will expire no later than May 31, 2027.

The decision follows a leadership crisis at the federation that resulted in the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and several members of the executive committee in August 2026.

This was disclosed by NFF in a statement issued by its Communications Department on Thursday, citing a letter signed by FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström and addressed to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme.

According to the letter, the normalisation committee will be appointed jointly by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and will remain in charge of the federation until it completes its assigned responsibilities.

“The normalisation committee shall consist of a suitable number of members, who will be appointed jointly by FIFA and CAF as soon as possible,” the letter stated.

FIFA said that the committee would be responsible for managing the affairs of the NFF and ensuring that the federation conducts fresh elections to produce a new executive committee.

The world football governing body also set May 31, 2027, as the latest date for the committee to complete its assignment, although its tenure could end earlier if all its responsibilities were fulfilled.

“The period during which the normalisation committee shall perform its functions shall expire as soon as it has fulfilled all of its tasks, but by no later than 31 May 2027,” the letter added.

FIFA further ruled that members appointed to the committee would not be permitted to contest any positions in the forthcoming NFF elections.

“None of the members of the normalisation committee will be eligible for the positions to be filled during the upcoming NFF elections under any circumstances,” the letter stated.

Until FIFA and CAF appoint the committee members, the NFF secretariat will continue to handle the federation’s day-to-day administration and oversee the running of football in Nigeria.

The development represents a major intervention by FIFA in the management of Nigerian football, coming after months of uncertainty surrounding the leadership and future direction of the NFF.

Recall that on 27 August, 2026, Gusau resigned as president, alongside Mohammed Sanusi and other members of the executive committee of the federation.

Gusau announced his resignation during a press conference in Abuja, confirming earlier reports of a major leadership shake-up within the federation.

The departures reportedly left eight of the 13 members of the NFF Executive Committee either resigned or no longer in their positions, raising concerns about the stability of the federation and its ability to conduct its affairs effectively.

An emergency NFF Congress meeting was subsequently scheduled in Abuja to allow football stakeholders to deliberate on the crisis and determine the next steps for the organisation.

Gusau was elected NFF president in September 2022 at an elective congress held in Benin City, Edo State.

The leadership crisis came against the backdrop of growing criticism of Nigerian football following disappointing results by various national teams.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, while the Super Falcons suffered another major setback after failing to secure qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Falcons had participated in every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991. However, their qualification campaign for the 2027 tournament ended in disappointment.

Nigeria’s women’s team lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, ending their title defence and forcing them into the World Cup qualification playoff route.

The team subsequently lost 2-1 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the playoff, confirming Nigeria’s absence from the 2027 tournament.

Concerns have also been raised about the performance of the country’s youth teams. The Golden Eaglets have failed to qualify for the last three editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, despite Nigeria’s record of five titles in the competition.

The Dream Team, Nigeria’s under-23 side, has also struggled to maintain the standards associated with the team that won Olympic football gold at Atlanta 1996.

Beyond the results on the pitch, the NFF has faced questions surrounding its finances and the management of funds allocated to Nigerian football.

In August, reports emerged that the Department of State Services (DSS) was examining documents relating to a N17 billion intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding salaries, bonuses and other financial obligations owed to the country’s national teams.

A source familiar with the matter said the agency had requested documents relating to the funds, describing the review as a process to examine the relevant records.

However, the source maintained that the investigation into the intervention fund was separate from another reported intelligence inquiry involving the DSS and the National Intelligence Agency concerning alleged contacts between some NFF officials and foreign nationals.

The allegations and reported investigations added to the uncertainty surrounding the federation at a time when it was preparing for elections to produce a new executive committee.