NFF Denies Owing Super Eagles Bonuses and Allowances Ahead of South Africa Clash

• The Nigeria Football Federation has denied rumours it owes Super Eagles players
• A publication had reported the players were being owed bonuses and allowances
• Nigeria will take on South Africa and Benin in the World Cup qualifiers next month

Nigeria’s preparations for the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month have been disrupted by allegations that the Super Eagles players are being owed.

An online publication reported the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to pay players their bonuses and allowances for up to 25 matches, from monies given by the Presidency.

According to Complete Sports, the NFF has debunked the publication, claiming the report to be false and only a figment of the writer’s imagination.

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"The report is absolutely false, in every ramification, and we challenge the owner of the website and writer to come forward with proof of the claims. We want him to name the players who spoke to him because these are all tissues of lies.

"Players and officials of the Super Eagles have been paid for all matches played at the AFCON, yet he claimed the team was paid for only three matches. His outlandish claim of the team being owed for 25 matches is the biggest lie ever concocted by any writer."

The Super Eagles camp will open on June 3 in Uyo, the venue for Nigeria’s clash versus South Africa when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume.

History of President’s bailout funds

Meanwhile, on January 7, the Presidency stated that President Bola Tinubu had approved a payment of ₦12 billion to satisfy allowances and bonuses owed to Nigeria's national teams, Score Nigeria reports.

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The Super Eagles have already received match bonuses from this intervention fund for their 2023 AFCON home qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe and also Sierra Leone.

However, it is alleged that the squad has not been paid for other due amounts they are owed, ranging from friendly match allowances to 2022 World Cup qualifiers, dating back to 2021.

Nigeria releases list for qualifiers

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Finidi George has called up an intriguing mix of players, including Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in Nigeria's 23-man squad to face Bafana and Benin next month.

Bayer Leverkusen's Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface, AC Milan's Samuel Chukwueze, and Ademola Lookman, who recently helped Atalanta win the Europa League, also earned spots on the roster.

AFCON's Most Valuable Player William Troost-Ekong, along with Kenneth Omeruo and Nigerian national captain, Ahmed Musa, were some of the top names to be dropped from the latest squad.