Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

It is fair to say that the country will not be banned by 31 December Jerome Champagne, Fifa's deputy general secretary

Fifa has withdrawn its threat to suspend Nigeria from international competition by 31 December.

World football's governing body had planned to sanction the country by that date if Decree 101 - the present statute governing the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) - had not been repealed by the country's parliament.

The law gives Nigeria's sports ministry the power to appoint the NFA's secretary-general, who is the chief executive, and several other board members. in contravention of Fifa regulations.

However, Jerome Champagne, Fifa's deputy general secretary, told BBC Sport that the country will not be sanctioned even if the offending law is not scrapped by the end of the year.

"I had the privilege to report to the [Fifa] executive committee on Saturday that we are going in the right direction.

"It is fair to say that the country will not be banned by 31 December."

Champagne said Nigeria had demonstrated sufficient evidence of its readiness to change its football laws in order to secure the NFA's independence.

"The NFA sent the draft of their new statute to us and we made some amendments, suggestions and corrections.

"They were sent back before the NFA's general assembly on Saturday and we have been informed by the chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, that they have been approved, which is a very good step."

Fifa expect Nigeria's government to honour its obligations

An exact date has not been set for the repeal of Decree 101 by Nigeria's parliament but Champagne said Fifa is confident that the promise made by Sports Minister Musa Mohammed will be honoured in the shortest possible time.

"He presented a draft of the new bill to [Fifa president Sepp] Blatter and it respects the autonomy of the NFA and bodies linked to the NFA.

"The decision has been taken to repeal the law, so whether it is done on the 31st, the day before or in the coming weeks, it is not important, since we have the commitment of the government to do it."

Champagne said Fifa accepts the nature of Nigeria's legislative process could force a slight delay in meeting the 31 December deadline.

"We are realistic that there are constitutional processes which must be followed.