The National Sports Commission (NSC) has cancelled the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) electoral congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, according to the Nigerian Guardian.
The decision is expected to pave the way for a temporary restructuring of the football federation, with the NSC preparing to appoint a three-month “normalisation committee” to oversee the affairs of Nigerian football.
The development is a major blow to the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF administration, which had been preparing for the September election as it sought another term in office.
The NSC reportedly took the decision following Nigeria’s disappointing elimination from the African playoff for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup by South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Morocco.
The defeat added to growing concerns over the direction of Nigerian football, particularly after the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the next World Cup.
The NSC was initially said to have considered former NFF president Amaju Pinnick to lead the proposed committee. However, the plan reportedly met resistance from some senior officials in the Presidency.
According to The Guardian, the Presidency has now given the NSC approval to announce the committee, with its composition expected to be made public within the next few days.
It remains unclear who will eventually head the committee, although sources indicated that Pinnick is no longer being considered.
There were also reported disagreements over the proposed inclusion of Dr Mohammed Sanusi as secretary of the committee.
The normalisation committee, once constituted, is expected to run football administration for three months while preparing the ground for a new NFF election.
It will also be expected to address some of the concerns raised by stakeholders over the federation’s electoral process.
A senior NSC official contacted by The Guardian declined to disclose details, describing the matter as sensitive.
“We are working, and Nigerians will hear from us very soon,” the official said.
The move comes after a difficult period for Nigerian football, including the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the country’s strong pool of players and the increased number of African slots.
The latest intervention has therefore intensified debate over the leadership of the NFF and the management of the resources available to develop Nigerian football.
