Nigeria has shifted focus to their second African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa on Wednesday, after resolving the row that previously surrounded their football federation leadership.
World football governing body FIFA earlier threatened a ban on the NFF with deadline on Monday at 7.00am (GMT), following a general assembly in the last month that, according to Chris Giwa, elected him as new president of the Nigeria Football Federation.
FIFA did not recognize his election on 26 August, because Outgoing NFF president Aminu Maigari who was to preside over a scheduled meeting to design road map for elections was detained for “general questioning” by the Department of State Security, missing the proceedings.
Giwa insisted he will not step aside despite FIFA’s demands. However, Musa Amadu, general secretary of the FIFE-recognised NFF reportedly on Monday confirmed to BBC Sport that the issue had been solved giving a go-ahead to their encounter against South Africa.
“It has been a difficult time for our football but everything is over now. Our attention should shift towards moving our football foward because the country’s football has gone through a tough period,” he said.
Defending Champions Nigeria meanwhile, suffered a shock 3-2 defeat in Calabar to Congo on Saturday and travel to Cape Town hoping for a better result.
Defender Godfrey Oboabona may not feature for the Super Eagles due to injury, though Fenerbache foward Emmanuel Emenike could start for coach Stephen Keshi’s side.
South Africa began their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Sudan on Saturday, and hope to replicate their brilliant show that had two second half strikes from Sibusiso Vilakazi and Bongani Ndulula’s debut goal guide them to victory.