By Steve Vickers BBC Sport in Harare

Fifa backs Pamire in the dispute

Fifa has given the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) an ultimatum to hold elections by 30 November or face action that could cost them their place at the 2004 Nations Cup.

The order was issued in a letter written by Fifa's deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne, after the country failed to conduct elections on the previously scheduled date in October.

"Fifa and Caf would like to express their strong displeasure regarding events at Zifa, in particular the court order, which blocked the elections planned for 11 October," the letter began.

"We decided to give Zimbabwe a new deadline of 30 November to hold an Elective General Assembly, and to jointly supervise these elections."

"In case of failure, Fifa will review the situation of Zimbabwean football one more time. No option will be excluded at that stage," the letter warned.

Zimbabwe's sports commission installed Charles Westerfall as Zifa chairman, after insisting that the Vincent Pamire-led executive is operating illegally.

But Fifa continues to recognise Pamire, who attended the recent Fifa congress in Qatar, as the incumbent Zifa chairman.

Sports commission chairman Anthony Mandiwanza has made it clear that he is prepared to sacrifice Zimbabwe's first-ever Nations Cup appearance in Tunisia in order to carry out needed changes at Zifa.

"Let us not focus on Tunisia only. I understand the emotions, but let us deal with the causes that led us to where we are," he said.

Pamire told the BBC Sport website that he is willing to work with his opponents in order to resolve the current impasse.