Harrison Jalla rejects FIFA ban fears over Nigeria football crisis

Harrison Jalla has rejected fears that the National Sports Commission’s involvement in the Nigeria Football Federation crisis could lead to a FIFA ban. He said the NSC is part of Nigerian football’s stakeholder structure and should not be treated as an external force.

The dispute comes ahead of the NFF elective congress scheduled for September 27, 2026. Calls for changes to the federation’s electoral and governance arrangements have grown, while legal challenges have added uncertainty around the process.

Jalla said the reform campaign was being driven by people within football who are dissatisfied with the way the sport is run. He argued that the debate should not be presented as an attempt by the government to take control of the game.

Nigeria’s recent international setbacks have increased the pressure on the NFF leadership. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons did not secure a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Jalla said the Falcons’ failure further demonstrated the need to review the existing structure.

The former Nigeria international has previously advocated a redesign of the NFF system, including equal representation and voting rights for the country’s five recognised federating units. He believes state football associations currently hold disproportionate influence and that the arrangement should be made more balanced.

Jalla has also supported the possible creation of a Normalisation Committee to manage reforms, provided it is staffed by people with football and administrative experience. He maintains that the objective is to repair Nigerian football’s institutions, rather than create circumstances that would invite FIFA sanctions.