World football governing body FIFA has warned
Nigeria could be banned by Tuesday if an “elected”
executive committee led by Chris Giwa does not vacate
the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) office by midnight
Monday.
In a letter dated Friday, August 29 and signed by FIFA
secretary general Jerome Valke, FIFA warned Giwa and
his executives to stop parading themselves as NFF
officials.
FIFA said they do not recognise the executives’ election
from Tuesday, although the global footballing body
said that “it appears the ministry of sports has
recognised them”.
“We will not recognise the outcome of the above
mentioned elections and should there still be persons
claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF
offices at midnight on Monday 1 September 2014, we
will bring the case to the appropriate FIFA body for
sanctions, which may include the suspension of the
NFF,” read the letter addressed to NFF secretary
general Musa Amadu.
Giwa and his executives took office on Wednesday and
the following day paid a courtesy call to sports
minister Tammy Danagogo, who promptly endorsed
their election.
The immediate consequence of a FIFA ban on Nigeria
would be the African champions forfeiting two 2015
Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers fixed for September 6
against Congo in Calabar and September 10 against
South Africa in Cape Town.
The crisis caused by the purported election has meant
league matches will not be played across the country
as scheduled this weekend after referees, club
managers and players announced a boycott until the
situation is resolved.
Two months ago, Nigeria was suspended by FIFA
following direct government interference in the running
of the game in the country when a court sacked the
elected NFF executive committee led by Aminu Maigari
and the sports minister appointed a civil servant to
head the NFF.
In Friday’s letter, FIFA accepted the decision of the
majority congress where 39 of the 44 members
resolved at an ad hoc general assembly for executive
committee elections to now take place on September 4.
