FA lifts ban on U-23 stars

According to the Secretary General of NFA, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Adewale Ogungbure, Emmanuel Izuagha, Alfred Emoefe and Felix Ogbuke, who were in the Under-23 team during the All Africa games, had shown enough remorse to be given another chance in the national colours.

"I can say herein that the ban has been lifted and the issue of them being recalled back to the team is to be decided by the new coach" Ogunjobi told newsmen on Sunday in lagos.

According to the NFA, the quartet had demanded to be paid US $4,000 each before playing in the final against Cameroon, which Nigeria lost 2-0.

The players had writen apology letter and publicly apologised for their disgraceful acts.

Before the one-year ban, the four players had been suspended from the Olympic side and were subsequently omitted from the team that played in a recent qualifying ties against Egypt in Cairo,Tunisia in Bauchi and Senegal in Dakar.

 Another Lifeline

Meanwhile, two of the players spoke with www.nigeriasports.com via telephone sunday night and thanked the FA for another opportunity to prove their mettle and show gratitude to the Nigerian press and populace.

"I want to thank the NFA and the Nigerian press for their support, may God bless them for their endless love and affection" Emoefe Emuejeraye said from Switzerland.

For Ejike Izuagha, it is another lifeline in his career "I plan to show Nigerians that I am deeply grateful and now my career can get to see a better light" he explained.