Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has emphatically dismissed widespread reports claiming he is interested in becoming the chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), now officially known as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). In a post on his verified X page on Thursday, Mr. Fani-Kayode stated that he has never shown any interest in football or its leadership and urged the public to disregard such rumours, describing them as "fake news" spread by "unknown blogs".

Mr. Fani-Kayode directly addressed the fabricated claims, writing, "It has been brought to my attention that fake quotes are being attributed to me by various unknown blogs claiming that I have an interest in being Chairman of the NFA and that I have now decided to step down from the race to support someone else." He unequivocally clarified his position: "This is all fake news. I know nothing about the NFA, I have no interest in the NFA or who leads it, I have no interest in football and thankfully I have not been approached or nominated for such a position by anyone and if I had I would have respectfully declined." He further added that he is "not a footballer" and "could not care less who the NFA Chairman is or will be," finding the entire suggestion "deeply insulting." He urged the "419 and criminal blogs" to cease attributing false quotes and stories to him, advising the public to ignore their "rubbish" and recognize their "hidden agenda." For authentic information, he directed the public to his official website (femifanikayode.org), his verified X handle (@realffk), or his verified Facebook and Instagram pages, warning that "anything outside of these platforms are FAKE" and should be read with caution.

The denial by Fani-Kayode, known for his political commentary and legal background rather than sports administration, comes during a critical period for the NFF. The governing body for football in Nigeria is currently facing heavy criticism due to the Super Eagles' struggles in their qualification bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These performance issues have raised significant questions about the state of football leadership in the country. Ibrahim Gusau, the current president of the NFF, who won his election three years ago for a renewable four-year term, has seen his tenure marked by various challenges, including governance issues and increasing pressure as the national team's World Cup aspirations remain precarious.