The National Sports Commission (NSC) has approved former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme to oversee the federation’s secretariat as interim General Secretary.
The decision follows a major leadership shake-up at the NFF, after Ibrahim Gusau resigned as president, Mohammed Sanusi stepped down as General Secretary, and members of the federation’s executive committee also resigned on Thursday.
Ademola Olajire, a former NFF Director of Media and Communications, has been appointed interim Deputy General Secretary.
The NSC has also suspended all processes relating to the NFF elective congress scheduled for September 27.
A new electoral process is expected to begin after the completion of a comprehensive reform programme for Nigerian football.
The reforms will be carried out in consultation with FIFA, football’s global governing body, and CAF, its continental counterpart, as well as the Federal Government and other stakeholders.
The aim is to establish a clear roadmap for the future administration and development of Nigerian football.
As part of the transition, chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers overseeing the country’s major football leagues have been directed to hand over administrative responsibilities to their respective chief operating officers.
The directive covers the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One.
The COOs are expected to be NFF staff members. Where an existing COO is not an NFF employee, the interim General Secretary will appoint a replacement from within the federation.
The NSC said the temporary arrangements are designed to maintain stability and ensure the continued administration of Nigerian football while consultations with FIFA, CAF, government officials and other stakeholders continue.
Further directives and changes are expected to be announced as the reform process progresses.
Why Gusau Resigned
Gusau announced his resignation during a press conference at the NFF Glass House in Abuja on Thursday.
He said he chose to step aside to give other Nigerians an opportunity to contribute to the development of football in the country.
Although Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams failed to qualify for the World Cup, Gusau maintained that he was leaving the federation in a better condition than he found it.
“I just want to tell you that I decided to resign my position as the NFF President. I informed my board members and advised them that anybody who wants to follow me to also resign, but as I am talking to you, I cannot tell you who and who or how many board members that have resigned,” he said.
His resignation came amid increasing criticism of football administration in Nigeria, particularly following recent setbacks involving the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, who both missed out on World Cup qualification.
Gusau was elected NFF president at the federation’s 78th Elective Congress in September 2022 and resigned before the completion of his tenure.
Meanwhile, former Nigerian international Segun Odegbami has called on the Federal Government to bring in football experts to help address the challenges affecting the country’s football administration.
The latest leadership changes are expected to pave the way for broader reforms aimed at restructuring the administration of Nigerian football and restoring confidence in the system.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
