Contrary to reports, senior players of Nigeria’s national football team have refuted claims of a bonus dispute ahead of their quarterfinal clash against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Super Eagles, known for past bonus-related controversies, have not received any tournament bonuses despite the approved funding by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
While Nigerian media has hinted at a possible rift within the team, with certain senior players reportedly discontented with captain Ahmed Musa, both William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo, who have captained during the tournament, have denied any confrontations.
“The report is a joke,” Omeruo told ESPN. “Musa showed us at lunch and we laughed about it. There is no issue here in camp. We are focused on our game tomorrow, believing that our money will be paid.
“This squad is not the one to fight over money; otherwise, you would have heard that we refused to go to training even before the tournament.”
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said the federation is working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria to expedite the payments.
“The NFF is grateful to the CBN for the way and manner in which they have continued to expedite action on payment requests that we have sent to them with regards to this competition,” Sanusi said.
“We have not experienced any delays or complications in processes at the CBN this time, and we give kudos to them for their diligence and great sense of duty.”
In adherence to their pre-tournament agreement with the NFF, the Super Eagles are set to receive incremental qualification bonuses for each round they advance in the tournament.
Additionally, they will be entitled to graduated match-by-match bonuses, reflecting their progress throughout the competition. This marks a departure from past practices, where payments were solely made on a match-by-match basis.