What appears to be a major controversy may have emerged ahead of Monday’s meeting between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and visiting top officials from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and World Football governing body (FIFA).

Among other things, the visit is to enable both CAF and FIFA vet the list of people picked by the National Sports Commission (NSC), the NFF and other stakeholders for the proposed Normalisation Committee to reform the nation’s football following the resignation of former president, Ibrahim Gusau, his entire board and the Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi.

Already, the NFF has selected nine State FA chairmen and 18 other representatives to meet with the visiting CAF and FIFA officials on September 14 at Abuja Continental Hotel.

Apart from the State FA chairmen, who got the highest number of nine invitees in the NFF letter, dated September 9, 2026, and signed by NFF Acting Secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, others stakeholders like Coaches Association, Referees Association, Players Union, NPFL, NWFL, NNL and NLO had three invitees each.

However, the situation seems not to be going down well with Players Union.

Chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative, Harrison Jalla, a voice in the Players Union, told The Guardian that the NFF’s decision to allocate just three slots to the Players Union as against nine for State FA chairmen was wrong.

“We won’t take it,” Jalla, who has been in the forefront of the struggle for Reform in Nigeria football said. “We are going there with the same number of people allocated to the FA Chairmen to speak out our mind in this meeting with CAF and FIFA on Monday. We have been in the forefront calling for this reform in our football system. Now that the process is about to begin, the NFF wants to create an imbalance in the structure. They must not push us aside. The same nine slots given to the State FA chairmen should be given to the Players Union. We are major stakeholders and the earlier the

NFF realise this, the better for everyone,” Jalla stated.

Monday’s meeting with the visiting CAF and FIFA officials is coming amid serious questions surrounding NFF finances and accountability amounting to around N40billion.

The House of Representatives is said to be beaming its searchlight on the alleged mismanagement of roughly $25 million in FIFA and CAF development grants received between 2015 and 2025, while anti-corruption agencies are said to be examining a separate ₦12 billion government intervention fund — bringing the financial questions surrounding Nigerian football to roughly ₦40 billion.

“We need genuine reform,” Chief Executive Officer of Monimechelle Sports Management Company, Ebi Egbe, told The Guardian.

“If Congo can jail its FA President over diversion of $1.3million, Nigerian football officials cannot continue to dodge prosecution for bigger scandals,” he added.

Canada-based Nigerian journalist, Emmanuel Tobi said: “Nigeria does not need a return to the old system. There must be transparency, accountability, credible elections and a football administration that puts Nigerian football first. This is the opportunity to fix the system, not simply rearrange the people running it. But will FIFA and CAF help provide the roadmap for the Nigerian football reset?,” he asked.