World football governing body, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are set to send a joint delegation to Abuja to assess the ongoing developments within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The development comes amid reports that FIFA and the National Sports Commission (NSC) had reached an agreement on proposed reforms in Nigerian football.
However, FIFA has clarified that no decision has been taken yet on the matter.
In an email dated September 7, addressed to Barrister Emmanuel Ikpeme and signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, the organisation said FIFA and CAF were still examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the current situation within the NFF.
The two football bodies said their assessment would involve reviewing the relevant facts, the NFF’s regulatory framework and the positions presented by the different stakeholders.
FIFA stressed that, at this stage, neither it nor CAF had reached a conclusion or decided on any specific next steps.
The organisation also directed Ikpeme, whom FIFA recognises as Deputy General Secretary rather than Acting General Secretary, to remain the main contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF for now.
This arrangement excludes the NSC from serving as the primary communication channel between the football federation and the two international football bodies.
FIFA asks NFF to suspend electoral process
FIFA also called for the ongoing NFF electoral process to be suspended, directing that no additional action or decision should be taken regarding the process until further notice.
According to FIFA, the request is intended to preserve the existing situation while FIFA and CAF complete their assessment and consult the various stakeholders.
The football governing body emphasised that the suspension should not be viewed as a ruling on whether decisions, actions, processes or positions taken by any stakeholder are valid under the FIFA Statutes.
As part of the review, FIFA and CAF said they would undertake a joint assessment mission to Abuja at the earliest opportunity.
The delegation is expected to meet with major stakeholders involved in the NFF situation, including representatives of the NFF administration, members of the federation, NFF electoral bodies and the Federal Government of Nigeria, including officials of the National Sports Commission.
FIFA has asked Ikpeme to assist with coordinating the logistics for the visit and arranging meetings with the relevant stakeholders.
The international football bodies said the mission would help them gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding recent developments within the NFF.
They also intend to hear the positions of the different stakeholders and identify issues that may require further examination under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulations.
No final outcome yet
FIFA and CAF said that after completing their assessment, they would determine whether recommendations or proposals should be presented to the appropriate decision-making bodies within FIFA and CAF.
Until that process is completed, the organisations said the outcome remains open and stakeholders should not assume what action FIFA or CAF may eventually take.
The latest clarification therefore indicates that discussions between Nigerian football authorities and the international football bodies are still ongoing, with the proposed reforms yet to receive a final decision from FIFA or CAF.
Source: Vanguard
