Super Eagles
By Olamilekan Abayomi
The Federal Government has finally settled the outstanding bonuses owed to the Super Eagles for their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage. The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, confirmed that all group-stage bonuses have been released and are expected to reflect in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours.
This development comes after the players threatened to boycott their match against Algeria over unpaid bonuses. The team’s captain, Wilfred Ndidi, even vowed to personally pay the bonuses if the government failed to do so before their quarter-final clash with Algeria.
The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have streamlined the foreign exchange processing to ensure faster and more predictable disbursements. A fast-track conversion process has been implemented to move funds into foreign currency, honoring the players’ preferences.
The Super Eagles have been pushing for the payment of their bonuses, which date back to 2019. The players had boycotted training sessions and threatened to skip matches, citing unpaid allowances and bonuses.
The payment of bonuses is expected to boost the team’s morale as they prepare for their AFCON quarter-final match against Algeria. The government has emphasized its commitment to supporting the team’s welfare and ensuring they focus on their performance .
The resolution of the bonus dispute is a welcome relief for the Super Eagles, who have been embroiled in this controversy for weeks. With the payment issue settled, the team can now concentrate on their AFCON campaign.
