Former Confederation of African Football Board of Appeal President, Barrister Abdulhakeem Mustapha, is a leading contender to head the FIFA-approved Nigeria Football Federation Normalisation Committee. He reportedly passed the world football governing body's integrity screening. Mustapha, a former chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee, completed FIFA's screening process alongside Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Christopher Green.
Green, chairman of the Rivers State Football Association, is understood to represent state football association chairmen on the proposed committee. The identity of the third member is yet to be established. FIFA and CAF are expected to unveil the Normalisation Committee to Nigerian football stakeholders and the general public on or before Friday, November 6.
Mustapha's reported emergence as the preferred candidate to lead the intervention could prove significant in resolving the leadership crisis within Nigerian football. A legal practitioner with over two decades of experience, Mustapha has held several important positions in Nigerian football administration. His experience in football governance, electoral administration, and legal matters is expected to be valuable.
Green brings considerable administrative experience, having served in football governance as Rivers FA chairman and holding a position in the Rivers State Government as Commissioner for Sports. The proposed committee follows FIFA's decision to approve a joint FIFA-CAF Normalisation Committee for Nigeria after consultations with relevant stakeholders over the country's football governance crisis.
The committee will oversee the administration of the NFF, review its statutes, ensure the establishment of an appropriate electoral framework, and organise elections for a new board in accordance with FIFA and CAF requirements. Its mandate will end once the assigned tasks are completed, but no later than May 31, 2027. Members of the committee will also be ineligible to contest in the elections they are mandated to organise.
The NFF Secretariat will continue handling the federation's day-to-day administrative responsibilities during the normalisation process. The intervention followed months of uncertainty over the federation's leadership and disagreements among stakeholders over the appropriate structure for resolving the crisis. The Normalisation Committee's establishment aims to restore institutional stability to the NFF.
Key points
- Barrister Abdulhakeem Mustapha and Barrister Christopher Green have passed FIFA's integrity screening.
- The Normalisation Committee will oversee the administration of the NFF and organise elections for a new board.
- The committee's mandate will end by May 31, 2027.
