Football governing body, FIFA has given Nigeria until Tuesday, July 8, to reinstate the sacked Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s board or risk sanctions.

FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke gave the warning yesterday. He said the body will ban Nigeria from all football activities if control of the NFF is not returned to the Aminu Maigari-led board immediately.

FIFA also insisted that it would not recognise any officer appointed by the Nigerian Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo other than Maigari and his team.

It called on the Sports Minister to ignore court order that sacked the NFF.

It would be recalled that Justice L.P. Lot of a High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, had on Wednesday restrained Maigari, the NFF Executive Committee members and the Congress from carrying on with the running of football in the country.

The Judge also mandated the Sports Minister to appoint an Acting Secretary General to run the affairs of Nigerian football pending the determination of the Motion on Notice before the court.

Consequently, Danagogo on Thursday appointed Mr. Lawrence Katken, an Assistant Director (Administration) to take charge of affairs at the NFF in the interim.

In another leg of the macabre dance, operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) yesterday morning stormed the NFF Glass House Zone, 7, Wuse District, Abuja, and took over the Secretariat. Maigari had earlier in the day been picked by men of the DSS though he was released after being questioned.

The NFF has summoned an emergency meeting of its General Assembly for today, July 5. Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria football, Chief Effiong Johnson, said yesterday evening in Abuja that the meeting would start at 1pm at the Bolingo Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

All the Chairmen and Secretaries of the Football Associations of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are expected at the meeting. Also expected are Representatives of the affiliate bodies such as the Leagues, Coaches Association, Referees Association and Players’ Union.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Presidential Villa in Abuja to brief him on Nigeria’s campaign at the on-going World Cup in Brazil, which ended with a 0-2 second round loss to France.

Keshi had in his company, two players of the national team who were injured during the course of the World Cup, Ogenyi Onazi and Michael Babatunde, whose treatment the coach reportedly appealed to Jonathan to fund.

Keshi had earlier in the day told sports writers at the Abuja National Stadium that he might consider a new contract with the country on his own terms. He had told close friends in Brazil that he would move elsewhere in view of NFF’s failure to offer him a fresh contract.

•Photo shows FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Update news