NAIROBI, Jan 5: FIFA and Kenyan authorities plan to meet later this month in a bid to restore the east African country's troubled soccer federation to international competition, officials said on Friday.

“A meeting is indeed planned. The details relating to it will be discussed by the KFF (Kenya Football Federation) executive committee due to meet on Saturday Jan. 6,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said in an e-mail from Zurich.

Kenya was suspended from international competition last October for failing to respect agreements and for protracted problems in the federation.

“Lifting the suspension is the number one item on the agenda because no meaningful discussion relating to Kenyan soccer can take place while we remain suspended,” said acting chairman of the KFF Mohamed Hatimy.

“This is a great injustice to players seeking to play abroad and those who want to showcase their talent,” Hatimy added.—Reuters