June 26 – Nigerian Sports Minister Ibrahim Bio has asked FIFA to hold on to the payment of the $8 million (£5 million) due to the Super Eagles for featuring in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Bio has told FIFA President Sepp Blatter that the Government has already paid the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) that sum and would prefer that the world governing body looked after the cash further notice.
However, Blatter turned down this request while also insisting that FIFA have given their blessings to the controversial NFF polls slated for August in Abuja.
Nigeria finished bottom of Group B with only one point, earned in their final match, a 2-2 draw with South Korea.
A spokesman for Bio said: “Blatter said FIFA will pay the NFF their World Cup earnings as and when due, while also telling the Minister that he does not have the powers to stop the elections into the executive committee of the NFF fixed for August.”
The National Sports Commission (NSC), which is headed by Bio, had on the eve of the World Cup kick-off ordered the NFF to suspend all electoral processes, but the NFF insisted on carrying on.
FIFA have also been informed of this direct interference by Government in the running of football in Nigeria and have subsequently warned that the country risk a ban should such meddling persists.
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