NFF Announces 2026 Election Timetable

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Electoral Committee has released the schedule for the 2026 NFF Executive Committee elections. According to the roadmap, the sale of nomination forms begins on Saturday, 1 August, and the election will be held on 27 September in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.

Candidate Submission and Review Timeline

Candidates must submit their completed nomination forms by 12 August after the election rules and guidelines are published. Between 13 and 19 August, the committee will notify candidates of any irregularities in their documents. The window for correcting these issues runs from 20 to 27 August.

Screening, Provisional List, and Appeals

Candidate screening is scheduled for 27 to 30 August. A provisional list of cleared candidates will be published on 31 August. Those disqualified have from 1 to 3 September to lodge appeals, with the appeals committee expected to finish its work between 4 and 10 September.

Final Lists, Delegate Register, and Campaign Period

The final list of eligible candidates will be released between 11 and 12 September. The delegates’ list follows on 13 September. Approved candidates will be allowed to campaign from 14 to 24 September ahead of the poll on 27 September.

Post‑Election Petitions and CAF Delegation Visit

The committee has set 30 September as the deadline for submitting election petitions after the conclusion of the polls.

In related news, a delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) arrived in Nigeria to inspect facilities proposed for hosting the CAF’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly and the annual CAF Awards ceremony. The visit follows the Federal Government’s approval, granted two months ago after a request by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe during the Africa Summit in Nairobi, for Nigeria to stage both events.

CAF Inspection Details

The five‑member CAF team is led by Dr Christian Emeruwa, Head of Safety and Security. Other members include Mohammed Bakeer (technology), Inas Ahmed (travel and accommodation), Salah Mostafa (transport), and Hervé Dassoundo (branding). The inspection began in Abuja with a visit to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and will cover the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, earmarked for the General Assembly, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The delegation will continue its assessment in Lagos, examining the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (proposed venue for the CAF Awards), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and EKO Hotel & Suites. Throughout the visit, the CAF officials are accompanied by an NFF team comprising Dr Ademola Olajire (Media and Communications), Alizor Chuks (Marketing), Barnabas Joro (Security), Emmanuel Ayanbunmi (Protocol), and Tasiu Riskuwa Shehu (ICT).

Conclusion

With the election timetable now public and the CAF delegation assessing potential venues, Nigerian football stakeholders have a clear roadmap for the upcoming NFF leadership contest and the country’s bid to host major CAF events.