The Nigeria Football Federation has voted its executive committee out of office, ignoring a threat from FIFA to suspend the African country from the world governing body over government interference in the sport.
The assembly made up of representatives of football associations, leagues, coaches, referees and players on Saturday endorsed the dissolution of the committee led by Aminu Maigari, the federation said on its website.
FIFA issued the threat in protest at the arrest of Maigari after the team return from the World Cup in Brazil having lost 2-0 against France on June 30 in the round of 16.
Lawrence Katken has been appointed as acting general secretary of the federation, which in its statement also said that “the failure of the Maigari-led NFF to fully and firmly resolve issues of finance” had caused Nigeria “international embarrassment.”
FIFA had said it would not recognize Saturday’s extraordinary NFF congress, which was convened by the sports minister. It said it only recognized the federation’s elective congress set for August 26 and gave Nigeria until Tuesday to restore the elected leadership.
