Nigerian national football team banned from international competition

Citing government interference as the reason – FIFA has banned the Nigerian national football team from international competition.

FIFA demand that national governments stay independent of their countries football federations.

In July, and following a poor World Cup, Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathon (pictured) attempted to withdraw Nigeria from international competition.

According to FIFA’s website,  political intrusions included “court actions against elected members of the NFF Executive Committee preventing them from exercising their functions and duties, the stepping down of the acting NFF General Secretary on the instructions of the National Sports Commission, the decision of the Minister of Sports to have the Nigerian League start without relegation from the previous season, and the fact that the NFF Executive Committee cannot work properly due to this interference.”

“The suspension will be maintained until the court actions have ceased and the duly elected NFF Executive Committee is able to work without any interference.”

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