Federal Government Admits Delay in Eagles’ Bonuses as NFF’s Wastefulness Deepens Crisis

The Federal Government has finally admitted that the Super Eagles’ match bonuses at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will only be paid ‘today or tomorrow’, a concession that comes after days of needless brinkmanship.

Despite knowing for months that Nigeria would feature at AFCON, officials allowed the players to reach the quarter-final stage without receiving a single bonus for their four victories.

On Wednesday, the team threatened to boycott travel to Marrakesh for their clash against Algeria, exposing the government’s negligence and disregard for its athletes.

Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, claimed the delay was due to ‘conversion processes’ to foreign currency, as if this bureaucratic excuse could justify the failure to prepare ahead of time.

She insisted transfers are now ‘in flight,’ but the timing, only after the players threatened to down tools, reveals a reactive, not proactive, administration.

The Eagles, who have scored 12 goals and remain the tournament’s highest-scoring side, were forced to consider missing their quarter-final trip from Fez to Marrakesh unless their allowances were cleared.

This is not the first time: in November 2024, Nigeria’s World Cup dream collapsed after a similar allowance dispute led to a boycott of training and a loss to DR Congo.

But the rot does not end with government negligence. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) itself has displayed staggering profligacy at AFCON 2025.

While the national team struggles to receive its rightful bonuses, the NFF has sponsored 37 state association chairmen, its executive committee members, and a large entourage of others, all on an all-expense-paid junket.

Flights, accommodation, feeding, and thousands of dollars in allowances have been lavished on officials who contribute nothing to the team’s success on the pitch.

The question is unavoidable: where did the NFF find the money to bankroll this bloated delegation when the same institution pleads poverty over players’ entitlements?

Funds that could have been invested in grassroots development, training facilities, or women’s football are instead being frittered away mindlessly on vanity trips.

Nigeria faces Algeria on Saturday, with the winner set to meet either Morocco or Cameroon in the semi-final. But the bigger question lingers: why must the Super Eagles always fight their own government and federation before fighting their opponents?