Soccer:The Nigerian government look to have backed down over their two-year ban of the national team from competition just two hours ahead of a Fifa deadline.
Fifa had threatened to suspend and even expel the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) due to government interference - and withhold the €6.4million due to the association from the World Cup.
Reports in Nigeria say President Goodluck Jonathan has been convinced to change his mind after imposing the sanction as punishment for the Super Eagles' disappointing tournament in South Africa.
The key to solving the situation appears to have been a meeting of the NFF's executive committee which led to nine officials, including their president Sani Lulu and vice-president Amanze Uchegbulam, being sacked.
Fifa had earlier written to the NFF, warning that they would be suspended if the Nigerian government had not backed down by the close of business today.
The NFF were told the first effect would be World Cup prize money being withheld, and that Nigeria would be banned from next year's women's World Cup and replaced by South Africa.
Fifa said they were waiting for confirmation from the NFF.