ABUJA - The new head of Nigerian football, whose disputed appointment has thrown the domestic game into turmoil, has dismissed the threat of sanctions from world governing body Fifa.

"We have seen the letter from Fifa and digested the full content of it," said Chris Giwa. "Nothing has changed as far as we're concerned. We will present our position to Fifa, and they will be convinced beyond any reasonable doubt."

Giwa took the helm of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last Tuesday, ousting incumbent president Aminu Maigari, who was prevented from attending an executive committee meeting after being arrested by the secret police.

Fifa waded in to the row on Friday, telling the NFF that it did not recognise Giwa's appointment and ordered him and his newly "elected" officials to stand down by midnight last night or face sanctions. A ban would throw into doubt defending champions Nigeria's first 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo on Saturday and South Africa next week.

But Giwa said: "The NFF is not intimidated and we do not expect any sanction because we have done the appropriate thing. For us, it is noise-making."

Nigeria's sports minister Tammy Danagogo has endorsed Giwa but club owner Bertram Ekenwa described this as "an act of gangsterism".

"He [Danagogo] has failed to understand the dynamics of football in this country and has imposed an unpopular candidate on us," said Ekenwa.

"He is behind the crisis. He should resign or be sacked."