The Nigerian government has reversed its decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from international competition until 2012, according to AFP.
A spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan announced the shock departure on Friday after Nigeria's poor performance at World Cup 2010 when they finished bottom of Group B with just one point. The absence would have seen the nation miss qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The comment provoked a strong reaction from FIFA as they threatened to withdraw financial help, stop Nigerian referees from officiating in international matches and its clubs from partaking in African club competitions.
A letter had been sent to the Super Eagles' hierarchy with a deadline of 6pm today which had laid out the consequences. FIFA strongly resists any political interference in the running of national sides and uses a host of sanctions to forbid the action.
The move follows a hectic weekend for the Nigerian authorities after three members of the Nigeria Football Federation - FA president Sani Lulu, first vice-president Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi, Technical Committee chairman of the NFF - were impeached after financial improprieties.
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