FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has warned that Nigeria stands the risk of being banned from international football competitions if the current leadership crisis bedevilling the country’s Football Federation persists.
Amaju Pinnick has been the NFF President since 2014 but a Supreme Court ruling two weeks ago appeared to give Giwa the mandate, and he has since presumably assumed office.
The four year-old case was expected to be resolved at the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State on Tuesday but it was adjourned to 25 September.
Pinnick approached the court for the relief after the Supreme Court judgment which ordered him to comply with the lower court’s order that compelled him to vacate the office for Giwa.
Giwa is not recognised by FIFA as he is serving a ban. He also lost the case with Pinnick at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is the highest adjudicator in sporting matters.
Giwa has however continue to parade himself as the NFF president following the adjournment, a move which could force FIFA to wield the big stick on Nigeria.
“The situation is very clear, there can be no interference in the running of the association… That’s the end of it. If any external body thinks they can change this, then of course Nigeria could be banned,” Infantino stated during his interaction with the media in Moscow on Friday.
Should FIFA placed a ban on Nigeria, the Super Eagles will not participate in the African Cup of Nations qualifier, while the other national teams will also be affected.
Two-time African champions, Enyimba who will also keep a date with Ivory Coast’s Williamsville in CAF Confederation Cup will also be disqualified from the competition.