Super Eagles Bonuses Released to Quell AFCON Boycott Fears
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has moved to end the tension in the Super Eagles camp by confirming that all group-stage bonuses for the national team have been fully released and are being processed into the players’ domiciliary accounts.
The intervention came through a series of statements made by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, on her official X handle.
Her comments followed widespread reports that the squad was considering a boycott of training sessions and a refusal to travel to Marrakesh for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-final clash against Algeria.
Providing an update on the administrative steps taken to resolve the standoff, Dr. Uzoka-Anite explained that the government worked closely with the apex bank to fix the bottleneck.
“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have successfully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice,” she said.
The minister clarified that the delay was not due to a lack of funds but rather the necessary regulatory procedures involved in such high-value international transfers. She stated that “all group-stage bonuses were fully released and have now cleared the necessary regulatory stages.”
Addressing the specific request of the players to receive their entitlements in foreign currency, Dr. Uzoka-Anite noted that the authorities had adapted their usual methods to accommodate the team. “We have implemented a fast-track conversion process to move funds into foreign currency, honouring the players’ preferences,” she added.
With the quarter-final match against the Desert Foxes of Algeria looming, the minister gave a definitive timeline for when the players would see the money. “The final transfers to domiciliary accounts are currently in flight. Players can expect these funds to reflect starting today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday),” she said.
The government’s swift action is intended to restore calm and allow the players to concentrate on their performance on the pitch. According to the minister, the primary goal is to ensure the team has everything they need to succeed in the knockout stages of the tournament.
“Our focus remains entirely on supporting the team’s welfare so they can maintain their incredible momentum in the knockout rounds. We move forward with one goal: Bringing the trophy home!” she said.
This resolution comes as a relief to many Nigerian football fans who feared that the bonus dispute would derail the Super Eagles’ impressive run in Morocco. With the financial issues settled, the team is expected to continue their preparations in Marrakesh for the showdown on Saturday.
