NFF Secures Super Eagles' $2.8m World Cup Allowance

Subject: Eagles $2.8m W'Cup money ready NFF secures Eagles' $2.8m World Cup allowance  Appearance fees for Congo, England games ready too  By Adewale Ajayi The Nigeria Football Federation officials have confirmed that they are ready with every money agreed with the Super Eagles going into the World Cup. It was learnt on authority that the early release of $2m from the world football governing body, FIFA has helped in a long way to making the NFF meet all  their financial obligations to the players ahead of time. The NFF President Amaju Pinnick who confirmed the development to our correspondent on Sunday said the federation is excited that the strong effort they put in at ensuring a distraction-free campaign has been achieved. He said, "We are glad that our efforts and relationship with FIFA has always paid off. We were also  then able to raise  $800,000 in addition which gave the federation the exact amount needed to prosecute the World Cup and the remaining pre-World Cup games. "We are confident now that without any distraction, the players can concentrate with Nigerians and fans of the Eagles see the most organised outing so far." The NFF signed an agreement with the players just before their friendly match against Argentina played in Russia which the Super Eagles won 4-2. Apart from securing the needed cash for the Russia 2018 outing, the NFF is also ready with the appearance fees for the games against DRC Congo in Port Harcourt this month and the game against the Three Lions of England at the revered Wembley Stadium. The cuurent NFF board led by Pinnick has in the last three years worked assiduously at eliminating all forms of disagreements  and distractions with the players.  The big competitions and particularly the World Cup had in the past years created embarrassments for Nigeria with the players and the NFF publicly disagreeing over cash .  The Eagles created international shame for Nigeria in Namibia enroute to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil when they refused to board their flight. The dollars crisis with the NFF hit the height when the players went on strike by boycotting training before the second round match against France which Nigeria lost and left the tournament. Similar situation greeted the Nigeria/Denmark match at the France '98 World Cup which saw the Eagles losing 4-1 despite the favourites toga they won onto the pitch.