- ‘I Don’t Want Bonuses to Distract Us’ – Ndidi Vows to Settle Super Eagles Allowances.
- Players protested unpaid allowances ahead of AFCON quarter final clash.
- Government says CBN has begun processing outstanding payments.
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has pledged to personally settle all outstanding match bonuses owed to players and members of the coaching crew if the Federal Government of Nigeria fails to make the payments before Saturday.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ndidi said he took the decision to prevent the unresolved bonuses from disrupting the team’s focus and preparations ahead of their next fixtures at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Leicester City midfielder was quoted by respected sports journalist Oluwashina Okeleji on Thursday as assuring both players and officials of his commitment to cover the payments if the situation is not resolved promptly.
“I’ve been pushing the team to train and play the game vs Algeria. I’ve been doing this since the second game. I’ve now made a commitment to the staff and players that I’ll personally pay the bonuses if the authorities fail to before Saturday.
“I don’t want these unpaid bonuses to affect our preparations. I told players and coaching staff that I’d personally make the payments if they don’t get it,” Okeleji wrote on his X account.
Tension reportedly resurfaced within the Super Eagles camp ahead of their quarter final clash against Algeria on Saturday. Players were said to have considered boycotting the team’s trip to Marrakech and skipped training on Thursday over unpaid bonuses from their three group stage matches and the round of 16 encounter.
The development raised fresh concerns about distractions within the camp at a critical stage of the tournament.
However, the Federal Government later moved to douse the tension. The Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka Anite, said the issue had been resolved and confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria had begun processing the payment of the outstanding allowances owed to both players and coaches.
The Super Eagles are aiming to maintain focus as they continue their AFCON 2025 campaign, with the quarter final clash against Algeria seen as a key test in their title push.
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