Away from performances on the field, the NFF has come under scrutiny over its leadership and handling of finances.
Much of the attention has centred on a 17bn naira ($12.66m, £9.31m) support package reportedly authorised by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to clear unpaid fees and other commitments to the country’s national teams.
No official conclusions have been released, but people familiar with the continuing reviews say financial records and administrative practices are being examined.
At the same time, an investigative committee established by the NFF following Nigeria’s exit from Wafcon 2026 identified several concerns involving the board and the management of national teams.
The committee’s report alleged that NFF board members interfere with team selection and that some officials and coaches choose players for financial benefit rather than sporting merit.
The forthcoming emergency congress is expected to consider the position of the executive committee and whether the organisation is complying with its own rules and those of African and international football authorities.
The continuing uncertainty has raised questions about the NFF elections planned for September. There have also been suggestions that an internationally supported normalisation committee could manage the transition and organise new elections.
Demands for extensive reform have intensified in recent months.
Former Nigeria players John Obi Mikel, Jay-Jay Okocha and Segun Odegbami have publicly said that genuine improvement depends on ending the repeated appointment of familiar administrators associated with years of disappointing results.
Although the resignations have created instability, some stakeholders believe the situation may also provide an opening for overdue structural changes and a transformation of the organisation’s culture.
The turmoil comes amid broader debate about leadership and accountability across international football, with Gianni Infantino playing a prominent role in those discussions.
For Nigeria, the central issue is whether trust in the NFF can be rebuilt while it deals with disappointing sporting results and serious administrative challenges.
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