World Cup:The Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan has banned the national soccer team from international competition for the next two years following their poor performance in the World Cup.
"Mr President has directed that Nigeria will withdraw from all international football competition for the next two years to enable Nigeria to reorganise its football," Ima Niboro, a special adviser to Jonathan, said today.
"This directive became necessary following Nigeria's poor performance in the ongoing Fifa World Cup."
Nigeria were knocked out in the group stages without winning a game. They lost their opening two matches to Argentina and Greece before drawing 2-2 with South Korea.
Jonathan's decision came a day after the executive committee of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) met to review the team's first round exit.
A statement said the federation apologised to the "federal government and all football-loving Nigerians for the early ouster of the Super Eagles from the World Cup" and added Nigeria would seek to play more friendly matches to get more experience.
The NFF said it wanted Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, appointed on the eve of the finals, to stay and put together a wide-ranging programme to harness young talent. They disagreed with those claiming Nigerian soccer was in a dwindling state.
The government instruction to withdraw from international competition could prompt sanctions from Fifa, who have taken a strong stand against political interference in the sport.
A Fifa spokesman said: "We have had no official information from the Nigerian FA about this case specifically but in general Fifa's policy towards political interference is well known. Our statutes do not allow for any political interference."
Nigeria were set to begin their bid to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals in September against Madagascar.