Following the disastrous performance of the Super Eagles in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan this afternoon ordered the withdrawal of Nigeria’s participation in any international football tournament for the next two years.
The decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting today in Abuja.
Ima Niboro, spokesperson to President Jonathan and Rotimi Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on the 2010 World Cup who briefed journalists after the FEC meeting, said the withdrawal is is to allow for re-organisation of Nigerian football and building of necessary condition for the growth of Nigerian football.
The Presidential Task Force had submitted its report to the President. Amaechi who said the present administrators of football in Nigeria are incompetent and inept said Nigeria will write to FIFA to inform it of its decision.
The President also ordered the probe of alleged misappropriation of funds by the Nigerian Footbal Federation while he has also given the go ahead for the building of Football House by the Presidential Task Force on Football, PTF.
It is not yet clear if the order will affect Nigerian youth teams and how FIFA will react to the order.
