ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria reversed its decision to withdraw as host of the 2009 Under-17 World Cup following a drastic cut in the estimated cost of hosting the event.

President Umaru Yar'Adua said in a statement Tuesday that the soccer tournament would go ahead as originally planned, but budgeted about $76 million in government funds toward the cost of the event scheduled for Oct. 24-Nov. 15, 2009. That's about a quarter of the sum originally demanded by the committee tasked with organizing the event.

FIFA and the Nigerian private sector will also contribute funds, the statement said.