Football's world governing body has threatened to ban Nigeria from international competition unless the country's sports ministry repeals two recent appointments to the Nigeria Football Association.
FIFA is unhappy that Nigerian Sports Minister Musa Mohammed appointed Segun Odegbami as interim secretary-general of the NFA and Salisu Abubakar as secretary of the Nigerian Premier League board on December 21.
In a letter sent to the Confederation of African Football and the Nigeria Football Association, FIFA said the two appointments are in direct violation of Article 17 of the world governing body's statutes. Nigeria had promised to repeal a statute known as Decree 101, which gave the country's sports ministry the power to appoint the Nigeria Football Association's secretary-general and several other board members.
FIFA regulations outlaw government interference in the running of national football associations.