The Super Eagles settled for a one all draw against Algeria in November when the two sides faced off in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
FIFA however on Tuesday, December 12 announced that Nigeria fielded an ineligible player in Abdullahi Shehu who failed to serve an n automatic one-match suspension imposed on him as a result of two yellow cards during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
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“The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the match between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017,” FIFA said in a statement on their website.
“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.”
Fortunately for the Super Eagles, the game against Algeria has no bearing on their 2018 FIFA World Cup participation as they had already sealed qualification before the match.
It means that the Super Eagles finished Group B with 13 points from six games; four wins, one loss and one draw.
Nigeria will face Iceland, Croatia and Argentina in their World Cup group in Russia. There was no immediate comment from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)