Nigeria Football Federation

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Nigeria Football Federation
CAF
Association crest
Founded 1945
FIFA affiliation 1960
CAF affiliation 1959
President Amaju Pinnick

The Nigeria Football Federation (until 2008 Nigeria Football Association) organises domestic and international football in Nigeria. It was formally launched in 1945 and formed the first Nigerian national football team in 1949. It joined FIFA in 1960 and the CAF in 1959. The NFF headquarters are in the city of Abuja.

As of 2008 it organises three leagues: The Nigerian Premier League, the Amateur League and the Women's League, and five competitions, including the Federation Cup and Women's Cup.

Formation dispute

Author and Nigerian football historian Kunle Solaja has found evidence that the Nigerian Football Federation could have been formed in 1933 and not 1945 as previously thought.

Solaja cited two Nigerian Daily Times' articles dated from 21 July and 21 August 1933. The first was an article called titled "Proposed Football Association", the latter was an advert invited people to attend an open meeting.

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Nigerian Football Association
The inaugural meeting of the above will be held at Health Office, Broad Street, at 7 pm tonight to discuss the formation of the Association and to pass its Rules. All interested in Football are invited to attend

Nigerian Daily Times, 21 August 1933

The FA's Public Affairs Officer David Berber, revealed that the FA held evidence of the Nigerian Football Federation existing before 1945: “I can advise that the name of the Nigeria Football Association first appeared in the ‘FA Handbook’ for the season 1938-39, in the list of our affiliated associations. The NFA Secretary at that time was F.B Mulford, with a Lagos address.”

2014 dispute

In July 2014, upon the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria was suspended from FIFA, briefly.[1][2] However Nigeria was back for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

In September, another dispute risked leading to Nigeria missing qualifying for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but problems were resolved, and Nigeria went on to the 2014 African Women's Championship. [3]

References

External links