International Football
NIGERIA APPLIED FOR FIFA MEMBERSHIP ON VALENTINE DAY
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s direct affiliation to FIFA which was initiated in 1951 came up again in 1959. There was the need for Nigeria to enter for the football tournament of Rome 1960 Olympics. So, it had to join FIFA.
On February 7, 1959, the bid to join FIFA was renewed when the NFA secretary, Mr. Allen, wrote the FA in London for advice regarding featuring in the football event of the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
The English FA secretary replied two days after saying he was pleased with the Nigerian decision to feature in the Olympics. He advised the NFA to apply for membership of FIFA through the secretary of the world body, Kurt Gassmann, promising that the English FA would support such application.
Sports Village Square’s investigation reveals that on Valentine day on 1959 (February 14, 1959), the NFA formally applied for membership of FIFA. Signed by Reginald Allen, the application was addressed to Kurt Gassmann, the Secretary General of FIFA.
The full text reads: “The Nigeria Football Association wishes to apply to the Federation of International Football Associations for membership, and I have been advised by Sir Stanley Rous to write to you on this matter. Would you please be so kind as to send the necessary form of application at your convenience.”
The
response was prompt. Kurt Gassmann replied on February 18, the same day the
letter got to FIFA headquarters. In the reply, FIFA requested for three copies
of the NFA’s Statutes and Regulations as well as information regarding summary
of NFA’s activities, competitions and championships.
The world body also wanted to know whether the NFA was the sole association governing football in Nigeria. Other information sought before the NFA’s application was examined included the status and number of players, clubs and referees in Nigeria. FIFA asked further that NFA’s formal application for membership must contain an undertaking that it would conform to the statutes and regulations of FIFA. The NFA was also to observe the laws and game in force and to include in its rules, provisions of Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the then FIFA regulations.
A copy of FIFA’s statutes and regulations was sent under a separate cover to the Nigerian FA. Allen set out gathering the necessary information.
He wrote to Basil Stallard, secretary of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), to get the list of referees who were of international status.
Allen was confident that the NFA would meet other requirements except that of referees. He noted that his idea of Nigerian international referees was about 16.
But he did not consider it too small since the NFA only organised about eight important matches yearly.
Stallard on his part remarked that there was no standardisation in the classification of Nigerian referees. “That made it difficult to know the actual number of referees who could be called first class”, he remarked.
The argument was that a first class referee in one part might not measure to the same grade in another part of the country.
To further support NFA’s application, Allen who in March became the association’s chairman, sent copies of NFA’s balance sheet to Sir Stanley Rous, secretary of the Football Association, England, and also to FIFA to support Nigeria’s application.
The association’s account was considered good, having had a record gate-taking of £4,742 in the Nigeria versus English Tourists duel the previous year. Next to that was the £4,406 realised in the Ghana/Nigeria match.
The NFA’s response to FIFA letter was sent on February 25, 1959. Three copies of the association’s constitution as contained in its Annual Handbook was attached to the reply.
Mr. Allen affirmed that the NFA was the only controlling football association for the entire federation of Nigeria, pointing to the association’s constitution which covered all creeds and tribes, including African and European teams.
It was also pointed out that the Nigeria Challenge Cup competition was entirely national and was run on similar lines to the English Challenge Cup (now The FA Cup). Mr. Allen also wrote that for the 1959 season, there were 81 regional, county and district associations which were affiliated to the NFA.
“These, together with the federal senior league (10 teams) and military forces, make an entry of nearly 100 teams in the Challenge Cup. The NFA also informed FIFA that it had nearly 1,200 recognised teams involving 35,000 players, all of whom are amateur, in its fold.
Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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International Football
Iran Conflict Casts Uncertainty Over Super Eagles’ Four-Nation Tournament Opener
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may face fresh uncertainty ahead of their scheduled participation in a Four-Nation Invitational Tournament in Amman, Jordan, following reports that Iran — their intended first opponents — is now at war after attacks by the United States and Israel.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier confirmed that the Super Eagles would compete in the mini-tournament during the FIFA Men’s International Window in March 2026. The competition is slated to run from March 27 to 31 in the Jordanian capital.
Under the original fixture schedule, Nigeria were due to open the tournament on Friday, March 27 against Iran’s senior national team at the 17,000-capacity Amman International Stadium. Hosts Jordan were set to face Costa Rica the same day at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
However, the escalating military confrontation involving Iran has cast serious doubt over the participation of the Iranian national team and the viability of the opening fixture.
While tournament organisers in Jordan have yet to issue an official statement regarding possible changes, the developing security situation is expected to force urgent consultations between the participating federations, tournament organisers and FIFA.
The competition was designed to provide competitive match exposure during a window initially reserved for the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria’s inclusion in the tournament had already generated debate at home, with observers questioning whether the NFF’s commitment signalled a shift in focus away from potential qualification disputes.
The new geopolitical crisis further complicates matters. International conflicts often trigger travel restrictions, airspace closures and security advisories that can directly affect national teams’ ability to assemble and travel.
Should Iran withdraw or be unable to participate, organisers may be compelled to seek a replacement team or adjust the fixture format entirely.
Nigeria are scheduled to face hosts Jordan on March 31 in their second match of the tournament, while Costa Rica and Iran were originally billed to meet the same day at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Kick-off times for the four fixtures had yet to be officially announced before the outbreak of hostilities.
For the Super Eagles, the tournament was seen as an opportunity to build cohesion and test tactical adjustments ahead of future competitive engagements. Now, attention will turn to whether the event can proceed as planned — and whether Nigeria’s opening match will require a late reshuffle.
The NFF is expected to monitor developments closely and may issue further clarification in the coming days as the regional and international situation evolves.
Meanwhile, Reuters has quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead. But the Iranians have dismissed the claim, saying that the leader is ‘firmly commanding the field’. Both Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran.
President Donald Trump says action will give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers. Hits were reported in Israel and Gulf states as Iran retaliated. The attack has triggered fear and panics as as Iranians flee cities.
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