FIFA Bars Normalisation Committee Members From NFF Election
• Condition rattles chairmanship aspirants
By Mercy Tula, SPORTS CORRESPONDENTÂ – The race for the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken a dramatic turn, with FIFA reportedly insisting that members of any proposed Normalisation Committee must be barred from contesting the substantive NFF elections.
The condition, which could reshape the emerging power struggle over the leadership of Nigerian football, was reportedly disclosed during a meeting between senior officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and FIFA officials at the world football governing body’s headquarters in Zurich.
According to an exclusive report by OwnGoalNigeria, the NSC delegation briefed FIFA on proposed reforms to the NFF following the resignation of members of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led board, including former NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
FIFA is said to have given its approval to the proposed reform process but attached conditions that must be met before fresh elections can be conducted to produce a substantive NFF board.
Under the arrangement, a Normalisation Committee is expected to take charge of the NFF for between six months and one year, during which it would oversee the federation’s affairs and prepare the ground for new elections.
The NSC is expected to nominate the chairman and other members of the committee, but FIFA will subject the nominees to integrity checks before their appointments are cleared.
The world football governing body is also reportedly expected to take responsibility for the welfare of members of the committee throughout their tenure.
However, FIFA’s most contentious condition is that no member of the Normalisation Committee will be eligible to contest for any substantive position on the NFF board when elections are eventually held.
The condition is already said to be causing unease among some of those positioning themselves for the NFF presidency.
Sources cited in the report indicated that some individuals who had been considering seeking the NFF chairmanship may have begun reviewing their plans, with some reportedly withdrawing their ambitions after learning of the restriction.
The development could therefore significantly alter the political calculations ahead of the next NFF election, particularly if the proposed Normalisation Committee is constituted with individuals who have previously been linked to ambitions for the federation’s top job.
With FIFA now insisting on a clear separation between those appointed to stabilise the federation and those seeking to inherit its leadership, the proposed transition could become a major test of Nigeria’s football administration.
