The FIFA Council is expected to decide on the proposed establishment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee reforms within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following a fact-finding mission by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The four-day visit by officials of the two international football bodies ended on Thursday, with the delegation meeting various stakeholders involved in Nigerian football.

A source close to the process said the mission was primarily aimed at gathering information about the crisis in the NFF and would not itself determine the next steps.

According to the source, the FIFA and CAF officials will submit their findings to the FIFA Council, which will deliberate on the appropriate measures for restructuring Nigerian football.

The development follows the mass resignation of former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s executive committee in August.

The resignations created a leadership vacuum within the federation and prompted discussions about whether Nigeria should have a caretaker arrangement, an interim body or a FIFA-backed Normalisation Committee.

The source said a Normalisation Committee was considered the likely option because the current NFF administration does not have a substantive secretary-general capable of leading an interim transition.

Emmanuel Ikpeme is currently serving as acting secretary-general of the NFF, following Sanusi’s resignation.

The source also distinguished the present situation from the 2006 football crisis, when FIFA appointed an interim arrangement after the removal of the Ibrahim Galadima-led NFF board. At the time, key officials remained in place to administer the federation and facilitate the transition.

FIFA and CAF had earlier suspended preparations for the NFF elective congress scheduled for September 27 while they assessed the legal, administrative, governance and electoral implications of the crisis.

The proposed Normalisation Committee, if approved, would oversee the federation temporarily and prepare the ground for fresh elections after addressing the issues identified in the reform process.

The final decision, however, rests with the FIFA governing structure after consideration of the reports from the fact-finding mission.