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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed as fake a purported letter from FIFA seeking clarification over alleged government interference in the affairs of the federation.
The NFF, in a statement on Tuesday, said the document circulating in sections of the media did not originate from the world football governing body.
“The NFF has debunked news of a ‘letter’ circulating in sections of the media as being from world football governing body, FIFA.
“It is totally fake. FIFA has already accepted the resignations of former principal officers and Members of the NFF Exco,” the federation said.
The denial came as a Nigerian delegation led by National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade met FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich, Switzerland.
Former NFF President and ex-FIFA Council member Amaju Pinnick also attended the meeting, which focused on the ongoing restructuring of Nigerian football and recent leadership changes at the federation.
The meeting followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and members of his Executive Committee amid growing concerns over the state of Nigerian football.
The NFF subsequently appointed Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim general secretary and Ademola Olajire as interim deputy general secretary.
The development comes after President Bola Tinubu called for reforms in Nigerian football following what he described as “repeated failures”.
The purported FIFA letter had reportedly raised concerns over Gusau’s resignation and alleged government interference, while warning of possible sanctions over a breach of FIFA’s rules on the independence of member associations.
The NFF, however, maintained that the document was fake and that FIFA had already accepted the resignations of the former officials.
