Nigeria's Super Eagles were
grounded when the country
was barred from
international football
because of government
interference, three months
after narrowly escaping
suspension for the same
reason.
Football's governing body
FIFA had previously
threatened to suspend
Nigeria in July when the
government, angry at the
national team's first-round
exit at the World Cup,
ordered them to pull out of
all international competition
for two years.
Nigeria President Goodluck
Jonathan reversed the
decision after the federation
agreed to disband the team
but FIFA said it would
continue to monitor events in
the country.
On Monday, FIFA said outside
interference, including court
action, had prevented
Nigerian Football Federation
(NFF) directors from doing
their job.
It also blamed the
government for a decision to
start the Nigeria League
without relegation from the
previous season.
"The FIFA Emergency
Committee decided today...
to suspend the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF)
with immediate effect on
account of government
interference," said FIFA in a
statement.
"The suspension will be
maintained until the court
actions have ceased and the
duly elected NFF Executive
Committee is able to work
without any interference."
"During the period of
suspension, the NFF will not
be able to be represented in
any regional, continental or
international competitions,
including at club level, and
also not in friendly matches,"
FIFA said.
Nigeria, known as the Super
Eagles, were due to visit
Guinea for an African
Nations Cup qualifier on
Sunday, having beaten
Madagascar 2-0 in their
opening match last month.
It was the latest chapter in
the chaotic administration of
Nigerian football which sees
national team coaches hired
and fired with astonishing
regularity and continual in-
fighting among directors and
politicians.
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.
As a result, Nigeria missed
the following Nations Cup in
Burkina Faso in 1998.
Monday's suspension means
Nigeria cannot compete in
age-restricted competitions
or international club
competitions, although the
country has no
representatives left in this
season's African Champions
League.
It also deprives the NFF of an
annual grant of $250,000
(£158,000).
Nigeria have played at the
World Cup finals four times,
twice reaching the second
round, and twice won the
African Nations Cup.
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