NFF debunks ‘fake’ FIFA letter as Dikko-led delegation meets Infantino

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed as fake a purported FIFA letter seeking clarification over alleged government interference in the affairs of the federation.

The NFF made the clarification on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as a high-level Nigerian delegation met FIFA President Gianni Infantino at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, amid ongoing efforts to reform the administration of Nigerian football.

In a statement, the NFF said the document circulating in sections of the media did not originate from the world football governing body.

“The NFF has debunked news of a ‘letter’ circulating in sections of the media as being from world football governing body, FIFA. It is totally fake. FIFA has already accepted the resignations of former principal officers and Members of the NFF Exco,” the federation said.

The NFF’s statement effectively rejected reports suggesting that FIFA had formally demanded an explanation from Nigeria over the circumstances surrounding the recent changes in the federation’s leadership.

The clarification came as officials from Nigeria held talks with Infantino and other senior FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) representatives on the ongoing restructuring of Nigerian football.

The Nigerian delegation was led by National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko and included NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade and NFF Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme.

Former NFF President and ex-FIFA Council member Amaju Pinnick also attended the meeting. The engagement included discussions on the proposed reform process and the need to establish a stable and effective framework for the future administration of Nigerian football.

The meeting followed the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the NFF Executive Committee on August 27.

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The mass resignations came amid growing concerns over the administration and performance of Nigerian football, with the country facing significant setbacks involving its senior men’s and women’s national teams.

Following the resignations, the NFF appointed Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim General Secretary and Ademola Olajire as interim Deputy General Secretary to oversee the federation’s administrative activities during the transition.

The NFF also suspended preparations for its planned September 27 elective congress as consultations over the proposed restructuring continue.

The leadership crisis followed calls by President Bola Tinubu for comprehensive reforms in Nigerian football after a series of disappointing results and concerns over the governance of the sport.

Tinubu directed the National Sports Commission to work with football stakeholders to develop reforms covering areas including football governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player development, domestic competitions and accountability.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has further intensified criticism of the country’s football administration. The Super Falcons have also faced a major setback after failing to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Government has sought greater cooperation among the country’s football authorities and international governing bodies to develop a sustainable framework for reform.

The purported FIFA letter, which circulated online and in sections of the Nigerian media, reportedly raised questions over Gusau’s resignation and alleged government involvement in the leadership changes.

The document was also said to have warned that interference in the independence of a national football association could amount to a breach of FIFA regulations, potentially exposing Nigeria to sanctions.

However, the NFF has firmly rejected the document, insisting that it was fabricated and did not come from FIFA.

The federation further stated that FIFA had already accepted the resignations of the former NFF principal officers and Executive Committee members.

Rather than a confrontation between FIFA and the Nigerian authorities, the latest engagement in Zurich indicates that discussions are ongoing between FIFA, CAF, the NSC and the NFF administration on how to implement the proposed reforms.

The NFF said the objective of the discussions is to develop a comprehensive reform roadmap that complies with the statutes and regulations of FIFA and CAF while addressing the challenges facing Nigerian football.

The outcome of the engagement is expected to influence the structure and timing of the next NFF leadership election, as well as broader changes to the administration of football in the country.

With the reform process now involving direct engagement with FIFA and CAF, attention will be focused on whether the stakeholders can reach an agreement that provides stability, strengthens football governance and improves the development and performance of Nigeria’s national teams.

The latest development also puts the focus on the need for a transparent transition that protects the independence of football administration while ensuring that Nigerian football receives the institutional reforms required to compete effectively at continental and global levels.

NFF debunks ‘fake’ FIFA letter as Dikko-led delegation meets Infantino

Saka fires Arsenal to narrow win over Aston Villa in Arteta’s 250th Premier League game

Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal as Arsenal edged Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park on Monday, giving Mikel Arteta a memorable victory in his 250th Premier League match in charge of the club.

The result gave Arsenal a perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, with the Gunners collecting six points from their opening two matches while keeping two clean sheets.

Saka’s 59th-minute goal settled a tense encounter in which Arsenal dominated possession for significant periods but struggled to create clear chances against an improved Villa side.

The victory was also Arteta’s 151st Premier League win as Arsenal manager, further highlighting the scale of his tenure at the club.

Villa entered the game looking to recover from their disappointing 4-0 defeat to Brighton in their opening league fixture. Despite losing several important players during the summer, Unai Emery’s side produced a much more disciplined performance against Arsenal.

The hosts came close to opening the scoring after 12 minutes when Emiliano Buendia unleashed a powerful long-range effort that beat goalkeeper David Raya but struck the crossbar.

Arsenal struggled to impose themselves in the final third during the opening stages, with Villa’s defence successfully limiting the visitors’ attacking options.

Declan Rice came close to breaking the deadlock with a header from a corner, but Villa debutant goalkeeper Zion Suzuki reacted quickly to tip the effort over the crossbar.

Suzuki made history during the game by becoming the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in the Premier League, and the 23-year-old produced a composed performance on his league debut.

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Arsenal gradually took control of possession but failed to register a shot on target before half-time.

Villa also struggled to create opportunities for new striker Nicolas Jackson, who was largely isolated as Arsenal’s defenders restricted the service reaching him.

Arteta responded at the interval by introducing Eberechi Eze for Christos Tzolis in an attempt to increase Arsenal’s attacking creativity.

Villa created the first opening after the restart, but Ian Maatsen fired wide from a difficult angle.

Maatsen was then at the centre of a controversial moment when referee Jarred Gillett initially awarded Arsenal a penalty after ruling that the defender had brought down Saka inside the box.

However, a VAR review overturned the decision after determining that the contact occurred outside the penalty area. Arsenal were instead awarded a free-kick, with Martin Ødegaard sending the effort narrowly wide.

Arsenal eventually found the breakthrough in the 59th minute.

Riccardo Calafiori surged forward and delivered a low cross into the Villa penalty area, where Saka reacted quickly to bundle the ball over the line.

The goal was Saka’s second in two Premier League appearances this season and once again underlined his importance to Arteta’s side.

Villa were forced to attack more aggressively after falling behind, which created greater spaces for Arsenal to exploit.

Suzuki then produced another outstanding save to deny Kai Havertz in a one-on-one situation and keep Villa’s hopes of securing a point alive.

Despite increased pressure from the hosts, Arsenal’s defence remained organised and successfully protected the advantage.

Villa were unable to register a shot on target throughout the match, extending a worrying statistic from their opening two league fixtures.

Emery’s side have now lost both of their matches this season and remain without a point or a goal in the Premier League.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have started their title defence with two victories and two clean sheets, providing early evidence of their defensive strength.

The match also featured Premier League debuts for Arsenal’s summer signing Bruno Guimarães, who came off the bench, while Ezri Konsa made his Arsenal debut against his former club after replacing Cristhian Mosquera.

The victory also extended Arsenal’s impressive away record, with the Gunners winning their opening away league fixture in each of the last five seasons.

For Villa, the defeat leaves Emery with significant work to do as he attempts to integrate a number of new players and address the team’s lack of attacking output.

The performance, however, was a major improvement from the heavy defeat against Brighton and offered some encouragement despite the result.

Arsenal will now turn their attention to their next challenge against Chelsea, with Arteta’s side aiming to maintain their perfect start to the season.

Villa, meanwhile, will be desperate to secure their first points and end their early goal drought when they face Hull City.

For Arsenal, Monday’s victory provided another important three points and a milestone win for Arteta, while Saka’s continued scoring form has given the Gunners another major reason for optimism at the beginning of the campaign.

Saka fires Arsenal to narrow win over Aston Villa in Arteta’s 250th Premier League game

Messi Retires from Argentina National Team for Second Time at 39

Football legend announces emotional departure after 2026 World Cup final loss, citing father’s death as confirmation of his decision

Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the national team for the second time in his career, bringing an emotional chapter of his illustrious international career to a close at the age of 39. Messi made the announcement on Monday, August 31, 2026, in a heartfelt statement shared on his official Instagram account, ending nearly two decades of representing La Albiceleste. The 39-year-old forward revealed that he had written the retirement message on July 21, just two days after Argentina’s heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. However, he chose to wait before publishing the statement. Messi explained that subsequent events involving his father, Jorge Messi, who tragically passed away on August 8 at the age of 68 following a long illness, made him even more convinced that retiring was the right decision.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment,” Messi wrote in his statement. “I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.” Messi’s decision comes after he led Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in 2026. He previously led the Albiceleste to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina defeated France in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure the nation’s third world title. During his international career, he also won two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima.

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The star cited the emergence of a new generation of Argentine players as another factor in his decision. “There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give,” Messi stated. “Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be there.” Messi ends his senior Argentina career with a record of 207 caps and 125 goals, making him the nation’s all-time leading scorer. He also holds the record for the most assists in international soccer history with 65, and the most assists in FIFA World Cup history with 12. He has won six titles while representing the national team: the World Cup in 2022, two Copa Américas, the Finalissima, as well as two youth titles (Olympic Gold Medal in 2008) and the U-20 World Cup in 2005.

In his farewell message, Messi thanked Argentina’s supporters, his family, coaches, teammates, and directors who accompanied him throughout his 20-year international journey. “Thank you for all the affection over these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside very much. Now I’m going to be one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through thick and thin, even more so).” He concluded his message with a powerful expression of national pride: “I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, along with my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of. It was crazy to experience it all with you. Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!” This marks the second time Messi has retired from international football. He previously stepped away from the national team following Argentina’s Copa América defeat to Chile in 2016, where he missed a crucial penalty in the shootout. However, he swiftly returned just six weeks later following a collective effort by fans, teammates, and even national hero Diego Maradona to convince him to reconsider. Messi’s contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season, and his retirement from international football does not, by itself, confirm his retirement from professional club football.

Messi Retires from Argentina National Team for Second Time at 39