FIFA fines Nigeria, deducts point from World Cup qualifying match

World football governing body, FIFA on Tuesday clamped down on the Nigeria Football Federation for fielding an ineligible player in a world cup qualifier against Algeria and also deducted points from the Super Eagles which however did not threatened the Super Eagle's place at the World Cup in Russia next year.

The NFF were also fined a whooping 6,000 Swiss Francs by FIFA.

FIFA cancelled the point earned by the Super Eagles in a 1-1 draw against Algeria, and awarded the Algerians 3-0 victory over Nigeria in a World Cup qualifying match in November.

FIFA through its disciplinary committee in a statement on Tuesday said Nigeria fielded Shehu Abdullahi who was ineligible for the 10 November 2017 qualifier against Algeria.

FIFA explained that Abdullahi Shehu failed to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him as a result of receiving a caution in two separate matches of the same competition.

However, FIFA said this sanction bears no impact on the final result of the preliminary competition for the 2018 World Cup since Nigeria had already qualified (and Algeria eliminated) before the match took place.

The sanction relates to the player Abdullahi Shehu failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him as a result of receiving a caution in two separate matches of the same competition, the statement reads.

This sanction bears no impact on the final result of the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup since Nigeria had already qualified (and Algeria eliminated) before the match took place.

Due to the sanction, Nigeria’s points in the group stage dropped from 14 to 11, while Algeria gets five points.