Nigeria yesterday received a reprieve from world soccer-governing body, FIFA, which has moved the deadline for the nation’s ban to Friday, October 31, 2014 at midday Nigerian time.
The grace according to FIFA’s Secretary-General Jerome Valcke in a letter addressed to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick was in order to give Nigerian football a last opportunity to avoid a lengthy suspension.
On Saturday in Windhoek, Namibia, CAF President Issa Hayatou told Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo in clear terms that the world was fed up with Nigeria’s incorrigibility in the area of football administration. ‘’It is all very disappointing because we have over 50 National Associations in Africa, but a big country like Nigeria is the one always giving us the biggest headache’’. Hayatou lashed out in a meeting with Sports Minister in Namibia.
But in the letter to Pinnick, FIFA said that if they do not receive proof that the case has been definitively withdrawn from court and the board elected on September 30 is able to carry out its activities without any hindrance, they would refer the case to FIFA Emergency Committee for implementation of the suspension.
In the letter, FIFA also warned of the dire consequences of a ban on the country stating that it would for instance mean that no team from Nigeria of any sort (including club teams) could have any international sporting contact.
