Contrary to reports that world football governing body, FIFA and the National Sports Commission (NSC) delegation led by its chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Bukola Olopade, had agreed on the proposed football reform in the country, another dimension has emerged.
FIFA, in an email dated 7 September addressed to Barrister Emmanuel Ikpeme and signed by Elkhan Mammadov, Chief Member Associations Officer, said, “FIFA and CAF are currently assessing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications arising from the current circumstances within the NFF. This assessment requires a careful review of the relevant facts, the applicable NFF regulatory framework and the positions communicated by the various stakeholders concerned.
“At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps.”
FIFA also requested that Ikpeme, whom it only recognised as Deputy General Secretary (not acting GS), should serve as the primary point of contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF, not the NSC, until further notice.
To further buttress the relevance of the FAs, FIFA, while requesting that the ongoing electoral process be suspended, said no further steps or decisions be taken in connection with that process until further notice.
