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Lagos - Nigeria's move to ban its team after a dismal World Cup performance was done "in the best interest of football," a government official said on Monday ahead of a FIFA deadline to rescind the decision.
But sports ministry spokesperson Tony Ohaeri refused to comment on whether the government was considering lifting the two-year ban on international competition as demanded by football's world governing body.
"Whatever Nigeria has done is done in the interest of football," Ohaeri told AFP. "It is left for FIFA to decide whether what we have done has violated any of its rules."
On Friday, FIFA reacted angrily to the government's ban after the poor showing of the Super Eagles in the World Cup in South Africa, giving Nigeria until 16:00 GMT on Monday to reverse the decision.
FIFA, which takes a dim view of political interference in the sport, has threatened to suspend Nigeria's football federation if the ban is not lifted. Nigerian federation officials could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Former national team coach and FIFA instructor Adegboye Onigbinde told local newspaper BusinessDay that Nigeria must abide by FIFA's rules.
Traditional African powerhouse Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches, prompting the government to suspend the team from international matches for two years.
