Nigerian ban lifted by president
442 Staff - Tuesday 06 July 2010, 01:32
ABUJA - Nigerian President
Goodluck
Jonathan on Monday reversed a ban on the national football team
taking part in international tournaments after the football
federation pledged to disband the side and rebuild it.
Jonathan last week suspended
the team from international
competitions for two years following an embarrassing performance
in the World Cup. The Super Eagles were knocked out in the first
round after failing to win a game.
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The presidency said Jonathan
had reversed his decision after
a meeting with the NFF at which the federation told him of their
decision to disband the team.
"They assured the President of
their commitment to evolving
an enduring football development programme, and grow a new
senior national team that will bring glory, rather than
consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage," the
presidency statement said.
"Based on these assurances, and
the appeals of well-meaning
Nigerians, including former leaders, President Jonathan has
decided to review the earlier two-year ban on the country from
all international football competitions."
Football world governing body
FIFA had given Nigeria until
Monday evening to change its decision and escape being barred
from all FIFA-related activities.
The NFF on Sunday fired its top
two officials and offered an
"unreserved apology" for the team's dismal performance in a
last-minute bid to reverse Jonathan's directive.
FIFA confirmed that it had
received notice of the decision
from the federation and "therefore, the NFF remains vested with
all its statutory rights."
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