NFF Orders NPFL, NNL, NWFL, NLO Administrators To Hand Over To COOs

NFF Orders NPFL, NNL, NWFL, NLO Administrators To Hand Over To COOs

By Niyi Busari 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed the chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers of the country’s major domestic leagues to hand over the administration of their respective competitions to their Chief Operating Officers (COOs), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The directive affects the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO).

According to the directive, the administration of the leagues is to be transferred to COOs who are members of the NFF staff as part of interim measures aimed at ensuring continuity in the running of Nigerian football.

Where the current COO of any of the affected leagues is not a member of the NFF staff, the Acting General Secretary of the federation has been mandated to deploy a new COO from within the federation.

The measures come as the NFF begins a broader transition process and engages with FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the government and other key stakeholders on proposed reforms to the administration and structure of Nigerian football.

The federation said the interim arrangements are designed to prevent disruption to league activities while discussions on a comprehensive reform roadmap are concluded and the next steps for its implementation are determined.

“These interim measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian football during the transition and pending conclusion of engagements with FIFA, CAF, Government and stakeholders to design a roadmap towards the comprehensive reforms envisaged for Nigeria football, and the next steps for activation,” the federation stated.

The NFF further explained that the current directives should be regarded as temporary measures and that additional decisions would be communicated as the reform process progresses.

“Further changes and directives will be communicated in due course,” the federation added.

The development could mark the beginning of a significant restructuring of the administrative framework governing Nigeria’s domestic leagues, with the NFF expected to provide further details as consultations with the relevant stakeholders continue.