Nigeria Football Federation

The Nigeria Football Federation (formerly known as Nigeria Football Association until 2008) is Nigeria's football governing body. It was formally launched in 1945 and formed the first Nigerian national football team in 1949. It joined CAF in 1959 and FIFA in 1960. The NFF headquarters is located in the city of Abuja.

Nigeria Football Federation
CAF
Founded21 August 1933 (1945 by NFF)
HeadquartersAbuja
FIFA affiliation1960
CAF affiliation1959
PresidentAmaju Pinnick (Since 2014)
Vice-PresidentSeyi Akinwunmi
Websitehttps://www.thenff.com

As of 2008 it 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.

Past and present leaders
  • Pa Mulford (1945-1947)
  • Pius Quist(Anthony) (1947-194)
  • D.H. Holley (1949-1950)
  • P. Harvey (1951-1953)
  • N. Miller (1954-1956)
  • Dennis J. Slattery (1957-1958)
  • R.B. Allen (1959-1960)
  • Godfrey Amachree (1960 - 1961)
  • F.A. Ogunmuyiwa (1961 - 1962)
  • Louis Edet May (1962 - 1963)
  • M.S. Adawale(Acting) (1963 - 1963)
  • A.B. Osula (Acting) (1963 - 1963)
  • Francis Giwa-Osagie (1964 - 1964)
  • Ishola Bajulaiye (1965 - 1965)
  • Chuba Ikpeazu (1965 - 1967)
  • Godfrey Amachree (1967 - 1970)
  • Kevin Lawson(Col.) (1971 - 1971)
  • Edwin Kentebbe(Comdr.) (1971 - 1972)
  • Ademola Adeoba(Acting) (1972 - 1972)
  • Emmanuel Sotomi(Brig.) (1973 - 1973)
  • Sunday Dankaro (1974 - 1980)
  • Mike Okwechime(Col.) (1981 - May 1982)
  • Edwin Kentebbe(Comdr.) 1982–1983
  • Tony Ikazoboh (1983 - 1987)
  • John Obakpolor (1987 - 1988)
  • Chuba Ikpeazu (1988 - 1989)
  • Efiom Okon (Interim) (1989)
  • Tony Ikazoboh (1989)
  • Yusuf Ali (1990 - 1991)
  • Efiom Okon (1991 - 1992)
  • Amos Adamu (1992 - 1993)
  • Emeka Omeruah (1993 - 1997)
  • Abdulmumini Aminu (1997 - 1999)
  • Kojo Williams (1999)
  • Dominic Oneya (1999 - 2002)
  • Ibrahim Galadima (2002 - 2006)
  • Sani Lulu (2006 - 2010)
  • Aminu Maigari (2010 - 2014)
  • Amaju Pinnick (2014–Present)

Formation dispute

Author and Nigerian football historian Kunle Solaja has found evidence that the Nigerian Football Federation could have been formed in 1933 and not 1945 as previously thought.

Solaja cited two Nigerian Daily Times' articles dated from 21 July and 21 August 1933. The first was an article called titled "Proposed Football Association", the latter was an advert invited people to attend an open meeting.

Nigerian Football Association
The inaugural meeting of the above will be held at Health Office, Broad Street, at 7 pm tonight to discuss the formation of the Association and to pass its Rules. All interested in Football are invited to attend

Nigerian Daily Times, 21 August 1933

The FA's Public Affairs Officer David Berber, revealed that the FA held evidence of the Nigerian Football Federation existing before 1945: "I can advise that the name of the Nigeria Football Association first appeared in the ‘FA Handbook’ for the season 1938–1939, in the list of our affiliated associations. The NFA Secretary at that time was F.B Mulford, with a Lagos address."

2014 dispute

In July 2014, upon the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria was suspended from FIFA, briefly.[1][2] However Nigeria was back for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

In September, another dispute risked leading to Nigeria missing qualifying for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but problems were resolved, and Nigeria went on to the 2014 African Women's Championship. [3]

Nigeria Football Federation Bill

A Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigeria Football Association Act and endorse the Nigeria Football Federation Act ("NFF Act") has been passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria in 2019. It remains for President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent for the Bill to become law.[4][5]

Reservations on the NFF Bill

The public consensus favors the passage of the Bill, as it is believed will become what Nigeria's Football Federation require to effectively grow football in the country. However, legal opinion queried the constitutionality, based on the Constitution of Nigeria as it regards to sports and sports administration of which the National Assembly has no legislative powers to pass such laws. Further still if the Bill becomes Law by the President's assent, Nigeria Football Federation will become a statutory body which will, therefore, contravene one of the FIFA statutes for their member organizations.[6]

References
  1. FIFA Emergency Committee suspends Nigeria Football Federation
  2. skysports - Nigeria banned from international football by FIFA due to government interference
  3. BBC - Fifa has confirmed that African champions Nigeria have avoided a ban from global football.
  4. - Nigerian Senate passes NFF Bill.
  5. - Nigerian Senate passes NFF Establishment bill.
  6. - a review of the Nigeria Football Federation bill.
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