Nigeria Football Federation appoints Ayo Abdulrahaman as NPFL COO

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Ayo Abdulrahaman as the new chief operating officer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The decision took effect immediately and was announced on August 29, the opening day of the 2026/27 NPFL season, Premium Times Nigeria reports.

Changes in league leadership

The appointment came a day after the Nigeria Football Federation dissolved the management of the country’s leading domestic football leagues. The federation’s acting general secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, said that chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers of the NPFL, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One must leave their positions.

The decision also applied to league operating officers who are not employees of the Nigeria Football Federation. As a result, the day-to-day administration of the NPFL came under the control of the federation’s secretariat as part of a broader process of reforming the football system.

Reform of the football system

According to the publication, Abdulrahman holds a doctorate in sports administration and has experience in organising and administering football in various domestic Nigerian leagues. The 2026/27 NPFL season began with a match between Shooting Stars and league newcomer Inter Lagos at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

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Before the personnel decisions, Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s executive committee resigned. The National Sports Commission approved Ikpeme’s appointment as acting general secretary and that of former media and communications director Ademola Olajire as acting deputy general secretary.

The federation also suspended preparations for the electoral congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State. A new electoral process is planned to begin after the completion of a comprehensive reform programme involving FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, the government and other stakeholders.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered a comprehensive reform of the country’s football, citing the need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development and accountability in the football system.

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