FIFA sanctions Nigeria *Pinnick vows to punish NFF officials responsible News

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FIFA sanctions Nigeria *Pinnick vows to punish NFF officials responsible

By Daily Sports on December 13, 2017

World soccer ruling body, FIFA on Tuesday sanctioned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for fielding an ineligible player, Shehu Abdullahi in the match between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017.

For this action, the football governing body announced on its’s website that Nigeria have forfeited their last 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Algeria and have also been fined the NFF.

The Super Eagles drew 1-1 in Algeria, but by this ruling they will finish on 13 points from six matches with their undefeated record tarnished.

Thus they remain qualified for Russia 2018 as Zambia finished second on eight points.

Cyprus-based Shehu Abdullahi was booked in a second round playoff against Swaziland in 2015 and was also cautioned in another qualifying match against Zambia in October 2017 and ought to have missed a final qualifier against Algeria, but he played the game.

According to FIFA, the match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick has directed that an internal inquiry be instituted to investigate whose neglect of duty led to Nigeria being fined.

“We accept the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to fine the NFF and award the match to Algeria,” Pinnick said in a media statement released by the Nigerian Football Federation’s media department on Tuesday.

“However, this is a grave error and somebody must be punished. We apologise to Nigerians for this and assure that this will not in any way derail or even distract us in our well-laid plan to ensure that the Super Eagles have a great outing in Russia.

“At the same time, I want to assure that persons responsible for this slip would not be given just a slap on the wrist. We are actually looking at a re-organization of the Technical Department. The Technical Committee will henceforth play serious superintending role on all details, no matter how minute, in technical matters.

“It is important that all committees and departments at the NFF should move at the same pace as the Executive Committee.”

•Photo shows Amaju Pinnick.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 13, 2017