Nigeria Players’ AFCON Match Bonuses Cleared, Payment Imminent – Finance Ministry
•By Admin
ABUJA – THE federal government has announced that the Super Eagles’ match bonuses for the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have passed the necessary regulatory stages and will be credited to the players’ accounts “starting today or tomorrow.”
Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of State for Finance, explained that the delay was caused by converting the funds into foreign currency, the players’ preferred payment method.
She confirmed the process has now been accelerated, with transfers to domiciliary accounts already underway.
“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have successfully streamlined the foreign exchange processing to ensure our players are rewarded without further delay,” the minister said.
“Going forward, the process will be fully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice.”
The Eagles had vowed. A “No pay, no play.” The team advanced the threat by threatening to boycott their trip to Marrakesh for Saturday’s quarter-final against Algeria unless the unpaid allowances were cleared.
The team is currently based in Fez, about five hours from the host city.
The players are yet to receive bonuses for all four matches they have played in the tournament, Pointblank news learnt.
The Eagles’ protest over unpaid allowances is not new. In November 2024, they boycotted training during the African World Cup playoffs over delayed payments, a move that preceded Nigeria’s loss to DR Congo and ended the country’s 2026 World Cup hopes.
On the pitch, Nigeria has been dominant at AFCON 2025, winning all four matches and scoring the most goals in the tournament with 12.
The team topped Group C and thrashed Mozambique 4-0 in the second round.
The winner of Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Algeria will advance to face either Morocco or Cameroon in the semi-final.
However, the question on the minds of many Nigerians, especially football fans, is the apparent incompetence of those managing the sport.
From time immemorial, football administrators in the country seem complacent about owing players and coaches, raising concerns that such delays may happen again.
Many believe that the best among Nigerians should be entrusted with running football administration.
There are also calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the National Sports Commission (NSC), as there are suspicions that corruption may be festering within the body.
•INDEPENDENTNG.