TheCable

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has warned that the country could be suspended by FIFA on Monday, October 27, if all pending football matters were not withdrawn from civil courts.

A statement by Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s head of communication, noted that the latest threat was as a result of an order by a Jos federal high court, nullifying the election into the executive committee of the federation.

In the statement, Issah Hayatou, CAF president (pictured) told Tammy Danagogo, Nigeria’s sports minister in Windhoek, Namibia, that FIFA and CAF were fed up with the country.

“Nigeria’s incorrigibility in the area of football administration…” the statement quoted Hayotou as saying.

“I had to plead passionately with FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, not to take action on Nigeria on Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African Women Championship, as a ban on your country could have been bad for the competition and our sponsors.

“We all heard the news of the court ruling on Thursday, and the football world is angry with Nigeria. That is the truth. The FIFA letter that came to your federation before the elections of September 30 was very clear about an automatic suspension should there be any interference with the political process, and after the elections went ahead, we all thought you had settled your issues.

“Nigeria signed to be part of the football world by joining FIFA, and opted to abide by the FIFA-approved Statutes that you have. How many times do we have to tell your country that football matters are not taken to civil courts? If Nigeria no longer wants to be part of the football world, then so be it.”

Hayatou was said to have held a meeting with Danagogo and the Nigeria high commissioner to Namibia, Biodun Olorunfemi.

The meeting was also attended by deputy president of the CAF appeal board, Nigeria’s Amanze Uchegbulam; CAF general coordinator, Paul Bassey (Nigeria) and media committee member, Aisha Falode.