Nigeria in self-imposed wilderness

Published on Wednesday 30 June 2010 17:48

NIGERIAN President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the national soccer team from international competition for two years following their group stage exit 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," said Ima Niboro, Jonathan's senior communications adviser. "This directive became necessary following Nigeria's poor performance in the ongoing FIFA World Cup."

Jonathan's decision came a day after the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) met to review the team's exit, in which they picked up a single point and finished bottom of their group also containing South Korea, Greece and Argentina.

A statement said the federation apologised to the "federal government and all football-loving Nigerians for the early (exit] of the Super Eagles from the World Cup" and added Nigeria would play more friendly matches to gain experience. Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, appointed on the eve of the finals, has been asked to stay and put together a wide-ranging programme to harness young talent.

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