Troubled Nigerian soccer sets leadership election

Nigeria players pose for a team photo. Julie Jacobson/AP

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian football federation says it will hold elections to choose a new leadership on Sept. 30.

The elections will be overseen by outgoing NFF president Aminu Maigari, who was twice forced out of office in recent months and reinstated after intervention by FIFA.

Nigeria, the African champion, was banned from international football for nine days in July for government interference after the sports ministry backed Maigari’s removal. It was again threatened with suspension this month when Maigari was ousted for a second time in elections not recognized by FIFA.

The NFF held a meeting this weekend to choose a new election committee ahead of the vote at the end of September. It promised a "credible and transparent electoral process."

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