Nigeria

The country’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, had taken the measure on Thursday in the wake of the team’s poor showing at the World Cup.

He issued a statement that Nigeria’s team would not be allowed to play in international competitions for the next two years, and would only be able to play in friendly matches.

FIFA’s reaction was swift, threatening to suspend the country from the organisation which would mean they could not play any matches, and financial sanctions could also be imposed.

FIFA had issued an ultimatum that Nigeria had until Monday night to reverse their decision.

“Mr President will not rescind the decision because it’s the best decision for football development in Nigeria,” a presidency source said.

“Mr President and his team had weighed the consequences of this decision and arrived at this decision as in the interest of the nation. We need to restructure and reorganise our football for effective and commendable results.”

“FIFA will today send a letter to the Nigerian football federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday 6pm (1600 GMT) to cancel its decision to withdraw Nigeria’s participation in all FIFA and CAF organised football competitions,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told a news briefing on Friday.

After meeting the country’s World Cup organising committee, Jonathan also said the accounts of the committee should be audited, and named an 11-member caretaker committee to sort out the administration and management of the game.

Maingot said FIFA would not recognise the management committee, but would send an executive member of the world body to attempt last minute mediation on Monday.

If the Nigerian government fails to heed FIFA’s ultimatum, it risks getting cut-off from all FIFA activities, including junior and female competitions. FIFA funding to the football association could also be cut.

“A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national team, it also involves the freezing of the financial help and no referees can participate in international competition,” Maingot said.

Nigeria were set to begin their bid to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals in September against Madagascar.

They also qualified for the upcoming women’s world championships at under-20 and under-17 level and their top club side Heartland is to play in the African Champions League group phase later this month.

A ban would also cut access to its development courses and stop the annual payment of $250,000 each member association receives, cash that is much needed by Nigerian football.

This latest episode is not the first time Nigerian political authorities have been at loggerheads with football governing bodies over political interference.

Nigeria were banned by the Confederation of African Football in 1996 when then President Sani Abacha withdrew the team from the African Nations Cup finals in South Africa because he had been criticised by Nelson Mandela over the judicial execution of political opponents.

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