The National Sports Commission (NSC) has reportedly cancelled the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) electoral congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, paving the way for a major leadership overhaul and structural reorganisation of Nigerian football.
According to OwnGoalNigeria, the intervention has halted the re-election bid of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and his executive committee, whose four-year tenure has come under increasing scrutiny amid growing concerns over the performance of Nigeria’s national teams.
The NSC is reportedly planning to appoint a three-month normalisation committee to oversee the affairs of the NFF while a broader restructuring of the federation takes place.
NSC moves to restructure NFF
The decision follows mounting calls from football stakeholders for changes in the administration of Nigerian football following a series of disappointing results involving the country’s national teams.
The Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has intensified pressure on the NFF leadership, with Nigeria set to miss the tournament for a second consecutive edition.
The situation was further compounded by the Super Falcons’ failure to secure an automatic qualification spot for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing to South Africa in the African play-off in Morocco.
Nigeria’s women’s team had featured at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 1991.
The NSC’s reported decision to suspend the NFF electoral process came shortly after the Super Falcons’ elimination, fuelling speculation that the federal sports authorities are seeking a new direction for the country’s football administration.
FIFA, CAF consultations
The proposed intervention is expected to require close coordination with FIFA and CAF, given FIFA’s long-standing position against government interference in the administration of its member associations.
Reports indicate that the NSC has engaged FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the proposed process and secured the world governing body’s approval.
The commission is also said to have contacted CAF President Patrice Motsepe as part of efforts to secure continental support for the restructuring of Nigerian football.
If implemented, the proposed normalisation committee would temporarily oversee the NFF’s affairs before a fresh electoral process is conducted.
The development could therefore usher in one of the most significant leadership changes in Nigerian football in recent years, with the future of the Gusau-led administration now hanging in the balance.