By Stephen Simon
World football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, CAF, have suspended the planned Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, election as they begin an assessment of the crisis rocking the federation.
The decision followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and other members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
FIFA said it was examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the developments before deciding on further action.
The NFF leadership crisis came after mounting concerns over the performances of Nigeria’s national teams, including their failure to qualify for the respective World Cups.
The resignations occurred shortly before the planned September 27 NFF election, forcing football authorities and the National Sports Commission to seek clarification from FIFA and CAF.
FIFA and CAF are now expected to send a joint assessment mission to Abuja to meet representatives of the NFF, Congress members, electoral bodies and the National Sports Commission.
The international football bodies said no final decision had been reached on the future structure of the NFF or any possible intervention.
Until the assessment is completed, the planned election remains suspended, while FIFA has directed that communications between the international bodies and the NFF should be channelled through Emmanuel Ikpeme, who has been endorsed by the National Sports Commission as acting General Secretary.
