This positive meeting sets the course for parliament to discuss our newly drafted law concerning the legal status of the NFA Sports Minister Musa Mohamed

Nigeria's hopes of avoiding an international football ban from Fifa seem to have improved following a high-level meeting in Switzerland on Tuesday.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter was present at Fifa Headquarters in Zurich to welcome a Nigerian delegation led by Sports Minister Musa Mohamed as well as Nigeria FA (NFA) chairman Ibrahim Galadima.

The parties met to discuss Fifa's ruling that the NFA must reform its statutes by 31 December if it is not to face an international ban.

Blatter later declared himself happy with the way the talks had gone.

"I am pleased with our discussions," the Fifa president said.

"We are all focused on the same goal and will report on the positive nature of our meeting to the Fifa Executive Committee at our next meeting on 18/19 December."

Fifa issues Nigeria ultimatum

Football's world governing body is unhappy with Nigeria's Decree 101 of 1992, which gives the sports ministry the right to appoint NFA officials - a direct contravention of Fifa rules.

In a Fifa statement, the body said that among 'the key items on the agenda of the meeting were two documents that will heavily impact the future of Nigerian football.

'First was Minister Mohamed's presentation of a draft of the proposed law concerning the NFA's status that will be discussed by the Nigerian Parliament in the next few weeks.'

The proposed law concerning changes to the NFA's status was recently forwarded to Nigeria's National Assembly, but has yet to be deliberated upon.

'Second was NFA Chairman Galadima's presentation of a draft of the new NFA statutes, which are to be discussed at the NFA General Assembly on 17/18 December,' the statement added.

Fifa will now examine both documents thoroughly before making a full report to its Executive Committee at its next meeting.

"This positive meeting sets the course for parliament to discuss our newly drafted law concerning the legal status of the NFA," said an upbeat Mohamed.

Joining Blatter, Mohamed and Galadima for the Zurich talks were Caf Executive Director Dr Amos Adamu as well as Fifa's General Secretary Dr Urs Linsi and Deputy General Secretary Jerome Champagne.