Nigeria stick to decision to withdraw team despite FIFA threat

 Soccer's world governing body had earlier issued an ultimatum warning that the Nigerian Football Federation would be barred from all FIFA-related activities if the government did not agree to change its decision by Monday evening.

"Mr President will not rescind the decision because it's the best decision for football development in Nigeria," a presidency source said.

"Mr President and his team had weighed the consequences of this decision and arrived at this decision as in the interest of the nation. We need to restructure and reorganise our football for effective and commendable results."

The ultimatum from FIFA, which does not tolerate government interference in football matters, came after Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan withdrew the Super Eagles from international competition for two years on Wednesday.

It followed the teams' poor World Cup performance which saw them knocked out in the first round after failing to win a game.

"FIFA will today send a letter to the Nigerian football federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday 6 pm (21.30 IST) to cancel its decision to withdraw Nigeria's participation in all FIFA and CAF organised football competitions," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told a news briefing on Friday.

After meeting the country's World Cup organising committee, Jonathan also said the accounts of the committee should be audited, and named an 11-member caretaker committee to sort out the administration and management of the game.

Maingot said FIFA would not recognise the management committee, but would send an executive member of the world body to attempt last minute mediation on Monday.

If the Nigerian government fails to heed to FIFA's ultimatum, it risks getting cut-off from all FIFA activities, including junior and female competitions, and also FIFA funding to the football association.

"A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national team, it also involves the freezing of the financial help and no referees can participate in international competition," Maingot said.

Nigeria were set to begin their bid to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals in September against Madagascar.

They also qualified for the upcoming women's world championships at under-20 and under-17 level and their top club side Heartland is to play in the African Champions League group phase later this month.

A ban would also cut access to its development courses and stop the annual payment of $250,000 each member associations receives, cash that is much needed by Nigerian football.

Larry Izamoje, a veteran sports broadcaster and member of the presidential taskforce charged with preparing Nigeria for the World Cup, said the Nigerian federation had not used money given to it by FIFA appropriately.

"FIFA's $1 million was used for things that did not benefit the team in terms of preparation," he said, adding the taskforce had handed the matter over to Nigeria's sports commission and he could not speak on behalf of the government.

Izamoje also criticised FIFA president Sepp Blatter for his handling of the situation.
"Blatter comes into any country, goes straight to the head of state, seeks governmental powers to host his competitions, and when things go wrong and government wants to correct, he comes with his hammer," he said.

This latest episode is not the first time Nigerian political authorities have been at loggerheads with football governing bodies over political interference.

Nigeria were banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1996 when then President Sani Abacha withdrew the team from the African Nations Cup finals in South Africa because he had been criticised by Nelson Mandela over the judicial execution of political opponents.