NFF Yet To Pay U23 Eagles Match Bonus And Allowance After 14 Months

NFF Yet To Pay U23 Eagles Match Bonus And Allowance After 14 Months

By Niyi Busari

Players and officials of the Nigeria U23 national team that failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics have cried out that they have not received any money from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, since their first match in February, 2019, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

BSN Sports carried out an investigation by speaking with the officials and players of the team, though, they pleaded anonymous because according to them, the federation will hunt whoever speak about the non-payment of their allowance with the media. The investigation revealed that the players and officials have not received anything from the federation.

One of the backroom staff, in an exclusive interview with BSN Sports said: "They have not settled us.' He said angrily.

"From our match bonuses to camping allowance from the first qualifiers to U23 African Nations Qualifier for the Olympics in February 2019 till date nothing has been paid up to us. But our hands are tied, we cannot talk." He told BSN Sports.

"The sad part of it, is that nobody knows that we have not been paid because none of us is saying anything. You dare not say anything if not, you will be dealt with. The worst part of it is that no one from the NFF is talking to us as to when we are going to be paid.

"The bonuses from the qualifiers against, Libya and Sudan and all camping allowance when we are in Abuja have not been paid. When we returned from the qualifier in Egypt, the NFF did a press release that all the national team coaches have been settled. We didn't comment because we just returned and believed we are not captured among their general statement."

Some of the player who were contacted also confirmed that they have been paid after spending about three months in camp.

"It is true that we have not been paid. And that is so bad because no one is talking to us. They neglected us since we did not qualify. But i think that should not affect our entitlement." The European based attacker said.

The team official stated how much they are being owed:

According to him, the allowance for the home and away matches against Libya. We resume camping on 13th February 2019 till 26th March 2019 and that is 42 days camp allowance according what the NFF agreed to pay to us.

"Then, our home and away matches versus Sudan. We resumed camping on 8th August to 11 September 2019 and that is another 35 days allowance.

"After the qualification to AFCON, we were in camp from 12th September to 31st October 2019 which is 49 days allowance according to the days NFF told us they will pay.

The winning match bonuses we are owed are as follows: the home wins against Libya and Sudan. The players suppose to receive $3,000 while the team officials are entitled to $4,500 for each match home win.

All local transportation engaged by all the players and officials yet to be paid for all the camping period.

Also, at the U23 African Nations Cup in Egypt, Nigeria won their first match against Zambia and the winning bonus is $5,000 for players while officials suppose to be paid $7,500

"We drew against South Africa and the draw bonus vs South Africa is $2,500 for players while officials is $4,500.

In total, the officials are owed $16,500 while the players are owed $13,500 excluding 49 days allowance which we have not been told how much they will pay per day.

Speaking with a senior staff of the NFF in a separate interview, he said: "The backroom staff of the team, though, are not entitled to salary but they should be paid their allowance and bonus they are entitled to. One of the backroom staff of the team just called me yesterday that he is in need of just three thousand (N3,000) naira to feed his family.

He added that he is aware that the federation sent a letter to the ministry of sports to recover some money they are being owed by the federal government.

"The NFF early this year, sent a letter to the minister of Sports to help them recover money owed by the federal government from the ministry of finance in January but they are yet to receive money.

"Though, i heard that they received Ninety eight million (N98 million) naira from the Ministry of Youth and Sports in November, after which they did a press release that they have paid all the national team coaches." The senior staff concluded.

BSN Sports on two different times contact NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, the Secretary General, Sanusi Mohammed and Head of Communication Department, Demola Olajire on January 20th, 2020 while another SMS was sent to them a week later. Till this moment, no response from the three of them.