The CAF chief revealed that Nigeria would have been banned by FIFA on Friday, but he had to step
in and plead with Sepp Blatter. But he warned that things were not looking good for the West African
nation.
"I had to plead passionately with FIFA President, Mr. Sepp Blatter not to take action on Nigeria on Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African Women Championship and a ban on your country would have been bad for the competition and our sponsors. We all heard the news of the court ruling on Thursday, and the football world is angry with Nigeria. That is the truth," Hayatou said.
"The FIFA letter that came to your Federation before the elections of September 30 was very clear about an automatic suspension should there be any interference with the political process, and after the elections went ahead, we all thought you had settled your issues."
Nigeria's High Commissioner to Namibia, Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi, Nigeria's Deputy President of the CAF Appeal Board, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, CAF General Coordinator, Mr. Paul Bassey and CAF Media Committee Member, Aisha Falode were the other prominent people present in Hayatou's meeting with Danagogo.
Hayatou added that a FIFA ban was imminent if football matters were not withdrawn from civil courts.
He added: "I appealed to FIFA to give until Monday for Nigeria to put its act together. After that, there
is absolutely nothing I can do. It is all very disappointing because we have over 50 National Associations in Africa, but a big country like Nigeria is the one always giving us the biggest headache.
"Nigeria signed to be part of the football world by joining FIFA, and opted to abide by the FIFA –approved Statutes that you have.
How many times do we have to tell your country that football matters are not taken to civil courts? If Nigeria no longer wants to be part of the football world, then so be it."
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