FIFA SANCTIONS NIGERIA OVER FIELDING INELIGIBLE PLAYER

Nigeria have been hit with a sanction from FIFA for fielding an ineligible player during a World Cup qualifier with Algeria.
Defender Shehu Abdullahi played in the game on November 10 in Constantine, which ended 1-1, despite being required to serve a one-match suspension.
FIFA has declared the match forfeited, awarding Algeria a 3-0 win and fining Nigeria 6,000 Swiss Francs.
“The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the match between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017,” a FIFA statement read.
“The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000.
“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.”
This sanction, however, has no effect on the final result of the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup since Nigeria had already secured qualification (and Algeria eliminated) before the match took place.