Fifa has temporarily lifted the ban on Nigeria from international football pending a court hearing.
Nigeria given a brief reprieve by Fifa but could still be banned
Fifa has temporarily lifted the ban on Nigeria from international competition pending a court hearing on 25th October.
The world governing body for the game was alarmed at the growing interference in the Nigeria national team from their government and suspended them on Monday.
Nigeria's African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea on Sunday had looked in doubt but the veil of uncertainty has now been lifted following Fifa's intervention.
Return
Fifa has stated it will provisionally allow them to return "after observing that the situation had taken a positive turn in recent days", which should allow the game to go ahead.
The governing body has repeatedly warned the West African country's leadership not to interfere with footballing matters.
Their President, Goodluck Jonathan, openly derided their performances at the World Cup where they made a meek exit after the first round, prompting him to suspend them from international competition.
That matter has since been partly resolved, but Fifa said in its statement at the start of this week that the ban followed a bid by Nigeria's Minister of Sports to have the domestic league start without relegation from the previous season.
Court
The statement added that "court actions against elected members of the NFF executive committee preventing them from exercising their functions and duties" were also to blame, while also citing a decision by the Sports Commission to force the association's secretary-general Musa Amadu to stand down from his position as another reason.
Since then, though, Fifa has been encouraged by developments, including: "The claimant at the origin of the court actions publicly committing itself to withdrawing its claim, the acting General Secretary of the NFF returning to his post on 5th October 2010 and the issue of the Nigeria League being left totally within the ambit of the NFF."
The statement continued: "The suspension has been lifted provisionally until 26th October 2010, after noting that the next hearing before the court is scheduled for 25th October 2010 and that only then can the judge vacate the court orders.
"However, should the NFF still be embroiled in court actions or any other issue preventing it from working freely on that date, the suspension will be automatically confirmed until all problems have been definitively solved."
