FIFA ultimatum clock ticks down for Nigeria
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (AFP): Football governing body FIFA Monday indicated its ultimatum for Nigeria to reverse its decision to ban the national football team from international matches following its poor showing at the World Cup stood.
FIFA announced Friday it had given Nigeria until 1600 GMT with FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot saying a letter had been sent to the Nigerian Football Federation on setting the deadline to reverse the decision or face "the suspension of the Nigerian federation."
"We have no further information at this stage. The deadline is until 6 pm," a FIFA spokesman said.
"We have to wait until the deadline, which is at 6 p.m. (1600GMT) If there is no indication or if the suspension is confirmed, we'll confirm certainly by a media release," the spokesman said.
Traditional African powerhouse Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches.
FIFA announced Friday it had given Nigeria until 1600 GMT with FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot saying a letter had been sent to the Nigerian Football Federation on setting the deadline to reverse the decision or face "the suspension of the Nigerian federation."
"We have no further information at this stage. The deadline is until 6 pm," a FIFA spokesman said.
"We have to wait until the deadline, which is at 6 p.m. (1600GMT) If there is no indication or if the suspension is confirmed, we'll confirm certainly by a media release," the spokesman said.
Traditional African powerhouse Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches.