Fifa Gives Nigeria 48hrs Ultimatum On Eagles Ban

PHOTO: SUPER EAGLES LEFT BACK TAYE ISMAILA TAIWO.

San Francisco, July 02, (THEWILL) - Fifa Secretary General, Jerome Valcke has said Nigeria has 48 hours to rescind its ban on the Super Eagles and the dissolution of the board of the football federation or have its Fifa membership suspended.

Speaking on a Jo’burg, South African radio station, 702 radio, Valcke said, "If the Nigerian government is not moving back, we will have to suspend Nigeria, the decision will be made in the next 48 hours," he warned.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday withdrew the Super Eagles for a period of two years from all international competitions following the Eagles' poor performance at the ongoing 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

Jonathan also dissolved the board of the Nigerian Football Federation.

The government said it wants to restructure and build a better organization and team.

But FIFA spokesperson Nicolas Maingot also told reporters on Friday that a letter had been sent to the Nigerian government directing Nigeria to reverse the withdrawal. It is also sending a delegation to Abuja to mediate with the government.

"I can confirm that FIFA has sent a letter to the government of Nigeria to cancel the decision to suspend their national team until Monday when a FIFA delegation visits the country.

Failure to do that may lead to the suspension of NFA, Maingot added.