Super Eagles Stars Threaten To Boycott AFCON Qualifier Games Over Unpaid Bonuses, Allowances

Super Eagles Stars Threaten To Boycott AFCON Qualifier Games Over Unpaid Bonuses, Allowances

By Niyi Busari

European-based Super Eagles players have threatened not to honour their last two African Cup of Nations qualifying matches unless the federation settle their unpaid bonuses, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Some of the players who preferred to be quoted on the condition of anonymity threatened that they will not honour their last two matches in the 2023 African Nations Cup qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone.

"We have been patient enough with the NFF regarding this matter. From our little findings, we understand that funds meant for our bonuses were disbursed to the NFF because some of the matches are friendly games whose money had been paid to the federation, and what they did with it is left to them.

"We have been patriotic to our country as Nigerians but the NFF has not done its part to the team in terms of welfare.

"Let me gladly inform you that the chance of many of us honouring the next two AFCON qualifying games is slim if our match bonuses are not paid."

Nigeria returned to the top of the Group A table with 9 points after handing a 1-0 defeat to Guinea Bissau in Bissau on Monday.

The Wild Dogs had 72 hours earlier in Abuja shocked Nigeria after they ran away with a lone goal win on Matchday 3 of the qualifier. They will play the next fixture away to Sierra Leone in Freetown, come June before hosting Sao Tome and Principe in the last group game in Nigeria.

A win in Freetown could earn Nigeria a qualification ticket to the continent's biggest football fiesta in Ivory Coast.

Recall at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Nigeria made the wrong headlines owing to issues connected to non-payment and delay of bonus payments.

Super Eagles players skipped a day’s training ahead of their second-round clash against France to press for their outstanding bonuses, which was then only resolved by intervention from the federal government.