NFF Crisis: FIFA suspends Nigeria

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been suspended by world soccer’s ruling body, FIFA on account of government interference.   According to Reuters, FIFA made this known in a statement after its Emergency Committee met on Wednesday.   Goal.com added that FIFA will lift the ban when an agreement is reached between the Nigerian Football Federation […]

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been suspended by world soccer’s ruling body, FIFA on account of government interference.

 

According to Reuters, FIFA made this known in a statement after its Emergency Committee met on Wednesday.

 

Goal.com added that FIFA will lift the ban when an agreement is reached between the Nigerian Football Federation and government.

 

 

“The suspension will be lifted once the court actions have been withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF general assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without any interference in their affairs.”

It would be recalled that a Jos High Court had ordered the sack of the NFF Executive Board and its congress last Wednesday until a pending case before it is decided.

 

FIFA expressed its dissatisfaction with the development and warned Nigeria to reinstate the sacked Aminu Maigari-led board or face sanctions but Nigeria refused to act accordingly.

 

Nigeria’s U20 Women and U17 male football teams will be the first to feel the impact of the ban.

 

The Falconets are preparing to travel to Canada ahead of 2014 FIFA U20 Women World Cup slated for Canada next month while the Golden Eaglets is billed to take on their counterparts from Congo on the 20th of this month.

 

With FIFA’s hammer on Nigeria, the Falconets would not participate in the competition while Congo will qualify for CAF cadet competition slated for May next year automatically and thereby deny Nigeria the opportunity to defend, in Chile next year, her 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup trophy.