FIFA to bench Nigeria FA

Rio de Janeiro - FIFA has suspended Nigeria from international competition after football leaders were fired by the government following the team's World Cup exit.

The suspension takes effect immediately, with Nigerian teams and officials excluded from international matches and meetings.

FIFA has set a July 15 deadline to resolve the problem, or Nigeria faces exclusion from the Under-20 Women's World Cup which kicks off August 5 in Canada.

Nigeria's government ousted the football federation leadership and arrested its president Aminu Maigari after he returned from Brazil last week.

The government blamed officials for not settling a player payment dispute.

Nigeria advanced from the group stage, but lost 2-0 to France in the Round of 16.

FIFA refuses to recognize a Nigerian court's order for the sports ministry to appoint new federation leaders.