The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Ayo Abdulrahaman as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), a day after the federation dissolved the leadership of the country’s major domestic leagues.
Mr Abdulrahaman’s appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced on Friday as the 2026/27 NPFL season kicked off with the opening fixture between Shooting Stars and newly promoted Inter Lagos at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
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The new NPFL COO holds a doctorate degree in sports administration and has experience in football organisation and administration, having worked across Nigeria’s various domestic leagues.
NFF interim General Secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, said the appointment followed Thursday’s directive requiring the chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers of the NPFL, Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One to vacate their positions.
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The directive also affected league COOs who are not members of the NFF staff.
Mr Abdulrahaman’s appointment places the day-to-day administration of the NPFL under the NFF Secretariat as the federation begins implementing a broader reform process.
NFF crisis triggers restructuring
The latest development followed the resignation on Thursday of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s executive committee.
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The National Sports Commission endorsed Mr Ikpeme, formerly NFF Deputy General Secretary, to oversee the federation’s Secretariat as interim General Secretary, while former Director of Media and Communications Ademola Olajire was appointed interim Deputy General Secretary.
The NFF also suspended preparations for its elective congress scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The federation said a fresh electoral process would commence after the completion of a comprehensive reform programme to be undertaken in consultation with FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), government and other stakeholders.
Tinubu orders football reforms
The changes followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” the president said.
READ ALSO: Gusau confirms resignation as NFF president
Mr Tinubu also described structural weaknesses as a major reason for the struggles of Nigerian football.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” he said.
The reforms come after a difficult period for Nigeria’s national teams.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons recently missed the 2027 Women’s World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1991.
Against this backdrop, Mr Abdulrahaman begins his tenure as NPFL COO with the domestic league entering a new administrative phase and the NFF preparing to implement a wider reform agenda.
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