The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) have issued a new and final deadline of September 8 for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to rectify issues with it’s executive board or risk facing a ban.
FIFA executive committee on Wednesday warned that if there are any persons still claiming to have been elected by the NFF and still holding any position by Monday (September 8), the Football body will ban Nigeria.
A ban from FIFA means Nigeria will still face Congo on September 6 but will forfeit playing South Africa by September 10.
FIFA on describing the effect of the ban wrote,“As a result of this decision, no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes).
“During the period of suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches.
“In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training during the suspension period.”
The Nigerian Government interference in the running of NFF forced the then President Aminu Maigari out of office with a court ruling but FIFA’s intervention had him re-instated.
Few days after Aminu resumed office, Chris Giwa was elected the new President by the NFF executive committee.
In response to the newly conducted election, FIFA sent a letter to NFF on August 29th announcing that it will not register the effect of the recently conducted election and hence gave a deadline of September 1st to anyone claiming to have been elected, to vacate the NFF’s Glasshouse in Abuja.
The slated deadline passed with Giwa still holding the presidency position.
A tutelage on FIFA’s website read thus
” The NFF Executive Committee as it was composed on 25th August 2014, meaning under the presidency of Aminu Maigari, should then convene as soon as possible a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF office-bearers.”