Quote:
World Cup 2010: Nigerian president lifts ban on team
 Nigeria failed to win in South Africa, finishing bottom of Group B
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has overturned his decision to ban the national football team for two years after their poor World Cup campaign.
The president lifted the ban after the Nigerian Football Federation promised to disband and rebuild the side.
The news came shortly before a 1700 BST deadline set by football's world governing body Fifa was set to pass.
Fifa had said that it would expel Nigeria from world football if the government was seen to be interfering.
The presidency said in a statement: "The NFF assured the president of their commitment to evolving an enduring football development programme, and grow a new senior national team that will bring glory rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage.
"Based on these assurances, and the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians, including former leaders, President Jonathan has decided to review the earlier two-year ban on the country from all international football competitions."
Last week President Jonathan said that after the team's unsuccessful World Cup campaign they would be banned for two years.
On Sunday, the the NFF's top two officials were sacked in a bid to appease the president.
A source told the BBC that the sackings had not swayed the president's decision, but that the NFF had requested to meet with the president on Monday to hold emergency talks ahead of Fifa's deadline.
President Jonathan had said that the ban was necessary to "enable the country to put its house in order".
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I don't necessarily agree with all the pressure that FIFA has put on Africa specifically in regards to political issues.. the US team is at unjust wars across continents and is immensely corrupt domestically and does FIFA put pressure on the US? What about Brazil? Germany? practically EVERY country on the earth and who participate with FIFA have the same kinds of problems, and yet Africa gets singled out time and time again.. THAT is why African countries don't have world class soccer and house world class international matches and why African teams are not well represented in international competition.. is is literally ridiculous and honestly persecution.