FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have ordered the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to suspend its ongoing electoral process, placing the federation’s planned September 27 election on hold amid a deepening leadership crisis.
The directive was contained in a letter dated September 7, 2026, from FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, to NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme.
FIFA and CAF said they are currently examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of recent developments within the NFF. The review follows the resignations of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
The two football governing bodies have instructed the NFF to take no further steps or decisions relating to the electoral process until further notice. They said the suspension is intended to preserve the current situation while they investigate the circumstances surrounding the crisis.
FIFA and CAF have also announced plans to send a joint assessment mission to Abuja at the earliest possible opportunity. The delegation is expected to meet NFF officials, members of the federation, electoral bodies and representatives of the National Sports Commission.
The purpose of the visit will be to gather information from the different stakeholders before FIFA and CAF decide whether any recommendations should be presented to their respective decision-making bodies.
Importantly, FIFA said no final decision has yet been made about what action will follow the assessment. This means reports suggesting that Nigeria is already facing a FIFA ban or that a normalisation committee has been established would be premature.
The crisis follows a difficult period for Nigerian football. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons also missed out on the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The developments prompted calls for major reforms within Nigerian football.
For now, the NFF election remains suspended, with the future leadership and administrative structure of Nigerian football likely to depend on the outcome of the FIFA-CAF assessment.
