The Federal Government’s unsettled financial obligation to the Super Eagles and other national sporting entities has been resolved by President Bola Tinubu.
As per a release from Tinubu’s Media Centre on Sunday, the remittance includes settling salaries for the senior national team coach spanning 15 months, along with addressing allowances and commitments owed to the senior national teams, female teams, and the Under-20 national team.
The statement reads, ‘President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others.’
‘The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coach salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, females, and Under-20 national team.’
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‘This is coming at a time when the Super Eagles of Nigeria are preparing to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, which is billed to start later this month.’
Throughout 2020, the Super Eagles registered discontent, citing the non-release of the approved N1.5bn by the Federal Government for their involvement in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
In the competition, the Eagles ended up in third place, with Algeria as the champions and Senegal as the runners-up.
A reliable insider from the Nigeria Football Federation disclosed that the NFF had to reallocate funds originally intended for the Super Falcons and the Flying Eagles to adequately prepare the Eagles for the tournament.
Ahmed Musa, the captain of the Super Eagles, stated in January 2022 that the Federal Government had outstanding bonuses for two games owed to his teammates.
Musa disclosed this in a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday as the Super Eagles few days to the Nations Cup. ‘Regarding the bonus, I think they are just owing us for two games now. Yeah, two games,’ Musa said. ‘There is no other outstanding outside these two games.’
Musa added that the players will ‘be having a meeting with the coach and maybe the NFF officials so we can take the next step forward.’