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africanews

The world football governing body FIFA has given Nigeria a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse a government decision to ban the Super Eagles from international competition or face the consequences. Their president Goodluck Jonathan banned the team after an abysmal performance at the ongoing World Cup.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke sees the move as pure political interference in football that contradicts the rules of the game.

“Nigeria went too far and Nigeria will be suspended if they don't change their position in the next 48 hours," Valcke told South African press.

"You can't allow a government to say all national teams can't play anymore in any international tournaments.”

Nigerian presidential spokesman Ima Niboro had claimed that the move was taken by the West Africans to avoid 'further embarrassment' after such a disappointing campaign in South Africa.

But Valcke insisted that FIFA cannot censure France for political involvement and not act on the situation in Nigeria.

"Why should we be so strong on France when they did what they did and we say nothing about Nigeria," he added.

"We have 208 members. If you have one country going against our statute, going against the football system, the pyramid of football, all is destroyed."