FIFA World Cup: Goodluck Jonathan Bans Nigeria from International Competition

Going into the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria had extremely high hopes as they found themselves in a group that they could have advanced from with Argentina, Greece, and South Korea being their roadblock into the round of 16.

However, the Super Eagles performed well under expectations as they finished last overall in their group with a 0-1-2 record.

And today, Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan has decided to ban the Super Eagles from all international competition for the next two years, due to their poor showing in South Africa earlier this month.

According to spokesman Ima Niboro in a weekly press conference to reporters after a cabinet meeting, "President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years to enable the country to put its house in order."

This now will prevent Nigeria (currently ranked 21st in the world) from competing in the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The decision by the Nigerian government will put Nigeria on a collision course with FIFA, who take a dim view of any political interference in the independent running of national federations.

Nigeria is not the first nation to get involved with a national team after an abysmal World Cup campaign, as the French government has gotten involved with their national side after an abysmal first round exit in Group A this year.

And of course, FIFA has already threatened to remove France from all international competitions if the government gets further involved into the national side.

Goodluck Jonathan became the official president of Nigeria earlier this year after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua from Pericarditis in May.

Jonathan (vice president of Nigeria until Yar'Adua's death) is up for election next year.