The Central Bank of Nigeria has paid each Super Eagles AFCON player $30,000 of their bonuses.
The payment by the apex bank has brought succour to the players who have started trading words with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over unpaid bonuses for their involvement in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The players have commanding lead in the group stage to the extent that soccer analysts tipped them as favourite for clinching the cup, but got knocked out by Tunisia in the elimination series.
Eagles 0-1 loss was an upset to many fans who found it difficult to believe that they could could be humiliated in such manner, given their impressive performance.
CAPITAL POST learnt that Eagles didn’t receive a penny as match allowance or winning bonus through their group stage that made the country proud at the time.
However, disagreement ensued between players, Ahmed Musa and William Troost Ekong, the captain and vice captain respectively for not pushing for their entitlements well enough.
The players described the NFF as insincere for not paying them per game until after the group stage.
Each player is to be paid $30,000 aside camp allowance and some players are yet to receive the bonus for the World Cup qualifiers. As a matter of fact all through they were not paid camp allowance.
The non-payment of allowances generated heated debate to the extent that Ekong reportedly pleaded with the players to be calm.
Ekong told his colleagues that he has spoken with the General Secretary of NFF who assured him that payments will be made on a particular date.
He said he tried to get across to the president Amaju Pinnick but he didn’t take or return his call but they have earlier spoken on the issue of the bonus. He explained he later had to text him to express his disappointment.
