By Blessing Olawale Ikuomola, Esq. and Bridget Olayiwola Ilesanmi
Football has a multi-layered legal framework. At the apex is FIFA, which is governed by the FIFA Statutes. On the continent, there exists CAF, which is governed by the CAF Statutes to manage and govern football. By virtue of the Nigerian Football Association Act, the Nigerian Football Association was established. However, in 2008, at the Annual General Meeting, the Board of the Nigerian Football Association unilaterally changed the name of the association to the Nigerian Football Federation without recourse to legislative amendment.
This article examines the historical background of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the legal framework governing football in Nigeria, the consequences and implications of the name confusion, and offers recommendations for resolution. Through an analysis of relevant statutory authorities, case law, and FIFA Statutes, it seeks to clarify the legal position of the governing body.