Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Football ban reversed by Nigeria

Updated at 6:03 am on 6 July 2010

Nigeria has reversed a ban on the national soccer team taking part in future international matches, an hour before the expiry of a deadline set by FIFA.

Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeria's team would be banned from playing other countries for two years because of its poor performance at the World Cup.

FIFA said it would expel Nigeria from world football if the government interfered in the team.

On Sunday, the Nigerian Football Federation's top two officials were sacked in a bid to appease the president.

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