It was gathered that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) blamed its inability to settle Super Eagles’ allowances on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) delay in releasing the funds meant for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
According to sources in the team’s camp in Abidjan, the players are being owed match bonuses and other entitlements despite the Federal Government’s announcement of a N12.5 billion fund for the campaign and other outstanding issues.
The NFF announced before the competition that it would pay each player a win bonus of $5,000, $2,500 for a draw and a daily camp allowance of $200. But the federation has only managed to settle the camp allowances accruing from the team’s camping in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and some daily allowances in Cote d’Ivoire.
No official, including some members of the technical team, has received any allowance due to the CBN’s delay in releasing the fund. An NFF official said the federation has pleaded with Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, to intervene before the players become restless over the issue.
“This NFF board is trying to build a good relationship with the players based on trust and we believe paying them their entitlements when due will help in cementing this relationship. That is why we are worried that the CBN is delaying the release of the money,” the official said stated.
