Mustapha Emerges to Lead Nigeria Football Reform Committee

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AbdulHakeem Uthman Mustapha, has emerged as the man approved by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to head the proposed Normalisation Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The development, reported on Wednesday, comes following the resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation's Executive Committee in August.

The committee is expected to oversee the administration of Nigerian football and organise fresh elections to produce a new NFF leadership.

According to reports, Mustapha will lead the committee, which is expected to include former NFF board member and Rivers United chairman, Christopher Green.

Mustapha brings considerable experience in football administration and legal affairs. He previously served as president of the CAF Appeal Committee and is a member of FIFA's Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee.

His emergence follows FIFA's approval of a normalisation process for Nigerian football, with the world governing body and CAF expected to jointly appoint members of the committee.

The intervention became necessary following the leadership crisis that engulfed the NFF and mounting concerns over the administration and performance of Nigeria's national teams.

The committee is expected to complete its assignment and pave the way for fresh elections not later than May 31, 2027.

None of its members will be eligible to contest positions in the forthcoming NFF elections, in line with FIFA's conditions.

The official unveiling of the committee's membership is still awaited.