Fifa give Nigeria deadline

Fifa tried to be conciliatory after the Nigerian Government banned the Super Eagles from international competition for two years following  their poor performance in the World Cup.  But now their patience has been exhausted and they have given Nigeria until Monday to withdraw the ban or face suspension from Fifa.

Fifa tried to be conciliatory after the Nigerian Government banned the Super Eagles from international competition for two years following  their poor performance in the World Cup.  But now their patience has been exhausted and they have given Nigeria until Monday to withdraw the ban or face suspension from Fifa.


Fifa will make one last attempt at mediation through a Nigerian committee member on Monday.  But they have made it clear that they are sticking to their core policy of no political interference in football.  The new management committee set up in Nigeria will not be recognised by Fifa.


The political storms in France and Nigeria resulting from the manner of their World Cup exits show that football is much more than a game.   In some respects the actions taken in Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan have taken the heat off President Sarkozy of France as they are a much more blatant form of political interference.