Breaking News: Fifa Ends Nigeria’s Suspension

The Federation of International Football Association (Fifa) has lifted its suspension on Nigeria from all international competitions.

The world football governing body barred the African champions (on Wednesday, July 9) after a high court sitting in Jos prevented the Aminu Maigari led board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from running the country’s football.

The regional court ruling was vacated and the lawsuit withdrawn by the plaintiff late on Wednesday, in time before Fifa’s Thursday deadline, which was only extended from Tuesday, July 15 because of a judiciary workers’ strike that prevented the pre-scheduled hearing.

The governing body confirmed on Friday it had restored Nigeria’s rights to feature in international matches.

Nigeria Football Federation.
Nigeria Football Federation.

“As statutory order has been reinstated at the NFF and the legitimate bodies reinstalled, FIFA has decided to lift the suspension as of today, Friday 18 July 2014,” read a statement on Fifa’s website.

“The lifting of the suspension means that all rights of the NFF as a FIFA member as defined in article 12 of the FIFA Statutes are reinstated.

This means the Nigeria women’s under-20 team could now intensify their preparation for next month’s World Cup in Canada.

And the Super Eagles can also defend their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title when the qualifying matches for Morocco 2015 starts in September.

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