With days to the kick-off of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, President Bola Tinubu has cleared the outstanding payment that the Federal Government owed the Super Eagles and other sporting teams of the country.
According to a statement on the X handle of Tinubu’s Media Centre, on Sunday, 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.
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.”
The PUNCH reports (https://punchng.com/fg-owes-nff-n1-5bn-afcon-money/) that in 2020, the Super Eagles complained that the Federal Government was yet to release the N1.5bn approved for them to compete at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Eagles finished third in the tournament behind winners Algeria and runners-up Senegal.
A top source in the Nigeria Football Federation said that the NFF had to divert the funds meant for the Super Falcons and the Flying Eagles to prepare the Eagles for the tournament.
Also, in January 2022, Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa said FG owed his teammates bonuses for two games.
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.”
