NFF — Nigeria Football Federation

What is the NFF?

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is the national football association of Nigeria. FIFA lists it under that name as its member association for Nigeria, in the CAF confederation, with its website at thenff.com.^[1] The statutes published on the federation’s site describe it as “a private organisation of an associative nature” established in compliance with the legislation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, formed for an unlimited period.^[4] Its own site says: “As the governing body of football in Nigeria, we oversee various leagues, national teams, and grassroots programs.”^[3]

What does the NFF govern or do?

The statutes’ objectives include “to organise competitions in association football, futsal and beach soccer at national level” and “to draw up regulations and provisions”.^[4]

The federation is responsible for Nigeria’s national teams; its site carries news of the Super Eagles, Super Falcons, Golden Eaglets, Flamingos and Sand Eagles, and in 2026 it carried notices of a CAF “B” refresher course and a CAF “A” licence course in Abuja.^[2]

When was the NFF founded and where is it based?

The statutes on the NFF’s site state that “The headquarters of the NFF are located in Abuja”, and give the address as Package B, MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, FCT.^[4] Under the same article, the federation’s flag, emblem, logo and abbreviation are registered with the Trademarks’ Registry of the Federal Ministry of Trades and Industry.^[4]

The federation’s Electoral Codes & Statutes page, headed “March 2026 edition”, publishes the statutes together with the Standing Orders of the Congress and the Electoral Code; the page gives the last two as adopted on 23 March 2026 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and in force from 24 March 2026.^[4]

How is the NFF recognised?

FIFA. FIFA’s member-association page lists the Nigeria Football Federation as its member for Nigeria.^[1] The NFF statutes state: “The NFF is a member of FIFA and of CAF.”^[4]

CAF. The same FIFA page places the federation in the CAF confederation.^[1]

WAFU B. The statutes require the NFF’s state associations to act “in conformity with the statutes and decisions of FIFA, CAF, WAFU B and the NFF”.^[4]

What does the NFF organise?

The NFF’s site lists the domestic leagues — the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria National League (NNL), the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), the Nationwide League One (NLO) and the Nigeria Amateur League (NAL) — and the Federation Cup for men and for women.^[2] Its statutes task an Organising Committee with proposing policy for “the organization of the NFF competitions of association football, futsal and beach soccer at any level”.^[4]

Who are its members?

Article 12 of the NFF statutes lists the federation’s members: the football associations of each of Nigeria’s states, from the Abia State Football Association, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Football Association, Abuja; the Nigeria Premier Football League, the Nigeria National League, the Nigeria Nationwide League and the Nigerian Women’s Football League, with their clubs; the Nigeria Beach Soccer and Futsal League; the Nigeria Special Football Association; the Nigerian Football Coaches Association; the Nigeria Referees Association; the players’ association recognised by the NFF; and the Nigerian Association of Physical and Health Education, Recreation & Sports.^[4] In the Congress, each state association is represented by two delegates with one vote.^[4]