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Fifa has confirmed that African champions Nigeria have avoided a ban from global football. The threat of suspension was lifted after Aminu Maigari was allowed to continue as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). His position has been questioned by Chris Giwa, whose election last month Fifa refused to recognise. "Conditions in our correspondence of 3 September have been complied with and the NFF is not suspended," said Fifa. However, Fifa warned that further complications in holding elections will lead to a ban. Nigeria's shock 3-2 loss to Congo in Calabar on Saturday in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying was their first competitive loss at home for 33 years. They lost the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations final to Cameroon in Lagos but that was on penalties. Maigari's main task now is to plan for elections to be held as soon as possible for the NFF presidency and board members. "We inform you that should the electoral process be affected by any interference or mishap, the case will be referred again - and without prior notice or warning - to the appropriate Fifa bodies for immediate suspension of the NFF until the next Fifa Congress," the letter stated. Fifa's next congress is in May 2015. Giwa had claimed to have been elected NFF president on 26 August but Fifa did not recognise him and gave him a deadline of Monday morning for him to step aside. He failed to appear at the NFF offices on Monday and a case has been taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on behalf of Giwa's committee. A Fifa suspension could have led to Nigeria missing Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in South Africa. |
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