FIFA has warned that Nigeria could be suspended later this month after the global governing body gave each of their respective Football Associations a deadline to resolve their ongoing governance issues.
In a statement, the Bureau of the FIFA Council gave a final warning to the Nigerian Football Federation following “undue influence” in the body.
FIFA has given the NFF until August 20.
Steps towards the resolution of the crisis within the NFF appeared to have been taken last month when Amaju Pinnick was restored as President amid a power-struggle with Chris Giwa, who also claimed to be the legitimate head of the organisation.
Giwa believes he was legitimately elected during a contested ballot in 2014 and was backed by Nigerian Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, earlier this month.
A Supreme Court verdict also ruled that Giwa should be in charge, but FIFA backs Pinnick and refuses to recognise his rival.
The problems in the NFF deepened last week when the Giwa-led Board supposedly fired General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
Pinnick’s group has also not yet regained control of the NFF offices, prompting FIFA to issue another order to the trouble-ridden association.
FIFA said in a statement that the NFF would be suspended unless the offices in Abuja are given back to Pinnick.
The world football’s governing body added that a possible suspension would not affect the Nigerian team, Falconets, currently playing at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in France as the tournament has already started.
