The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, easily makes the news these days, for the wrong reasons. But, first, how did the organization originate?
The NFF (formerly known as Nigeria Football Association, NFA, until 2008) is the body governing football in Nigeria. It is generally believed that the NFA was launched in 1945 and in 1949, it formed the first Nigerian national football team. It joined the Confederation of African Football, CAF, in 1959 and FIFA in 1960. The NFF headquarters is located in Abuja.
The NFF organises three leagues: The Nigerian Premier League, the Amateur League and the Women’s League, and five competitions, including the Federation Cup and Women’s Cup. The recent past Chairmen of the body include – Ibrahim Galadima (2002 – 2006); Sani Lulu (2006 – 2010) and Aminu Maigari (2010 – 2014).
The current Chairman of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, was elected in 2014.For some time now, the tussle for the leadership of the NFF has been mired in controversy. In July 2014, when the 2014 FIFA World Cup ended in Brazil, Nigeria was briefly suspended from FIFA. However, Nigeria was recalled for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Last June, another dispute would have led to Nigeria not playing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, but the matter was apparently swept under the rug. It re-surfaced at the end of the Mundial. The fellow, who competed against Amaju Pinnick for the leadership of the NFF in 2014, Issa Giwa, now claims to be the authentic Chairman of the body.
The NFF is an entity but it seems to have two Chairmen. Possibly, the distressed body contributed to Nigeria’s early exit from Russia 2018.
