Nigeria ‘lifts ban on national football team’

Nigeria’s government on Monday lifted a ban it imposed on its national football team.

Abuja: Nigeria’s government on Monday lifted a ban it imposed last week on its national football team after a dismal World Cup showing just ahead of a FIFA deadline to do so, a presidential source said.

“The government has reversed the decision,” the source told reporters. A formal announcement was expected later. Earlier, FIFA on Friday gave Nigeria just under two days to reverse its decision to ban the national football team from international matches following its poor showing at the World Cup. FIFA’s general secretary Jerome Valcke said he would meet the Nigerian executive member representing Nigeria at FIFA to discuss the decision. “Nigeria went too far and Nigeria will be suspended if they don’t change their position in the next 48 hours,” Valcke told independent Talk Radio 702. His comments came after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan banned the Nigerian national football team from international matches following its disappointing first round exit at the World Cup. Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches. Bureau Report