The Federal Government has officially confirmed the disbursement of outstanding match bonuses to the Super Eagles, Nigeria's national football team, for their participation in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco. This crucial development follows the successful completion of administrative and foreign exchange processes, addressing a contentious issue that had led to reports of the team threatening to boycott their next match against Algeria.

Mrs. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of State for Finance, announced the breakthrough on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account. She detailed the collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in resolving earlier bottlenecks related to foreign exchange processing, thus ensuring timely payment to the players. "I am pleased to provide an update on the administrative progress regarding the match bonuses for our national team at AFCON 2025," Uzoka-Anite stated. "The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria have successfully streamlined the foreign exchange processing to ensure our players are rewarded without further delay."

According to the Minister, all group-stage bonuses have been fully released and cleared the necessary regulatory stages, with the final transfers to the players’ accounts already underway. To accommodate the players' preference for foreign currency payments, the government introduced a fast-track conversion process. Dr. Uzoka-Anite confirmed that these final disbursements to the players’ domiciliary accounts were in progress and expected to reflect starting today or tomorrow. Furthermore, she noted that robust measures have been implemented to prevent any future delays in the payment of players’ entitlements, ensuring that "the process will be fully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice."

Reaffirming the federal government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of the national team, the Minister emphasized that the primary focus remains on enabling the Super Eagles to sustain their exceptional performance as the tournament progresses into its decisive knockout rounds. "Our focus remains entirely on supporting the team’s welfare so they can maintain their incredible momentum in the knockout rounds," she stated, adding, "We move forward with one goal: bringing the trophy home."

Reportedly invigorated by the positive news regarding their winning bonuses, the Super Eagles squad has since travelled from their base in Fès to Marrakech, the venue for their much-anticipated quarter-final clash against Algeria on Saturday. Prior to the government's intervention, the team, reportedly coached by Eric Chelle, had threatened to boycott training and the journey to Marrakech due to the outstanding bonuses owed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). This incident marks another instance of bonus disputes affecting Nigerian football, with a similar protest over World Cup qualifying bonuses reportedly contributing to the team's failure to secure a World Cup spot against DR Congo in Morocco in the past.

The delayed payments attracted strong criticism from various stakeholders. Prince Harrison Jalla, Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force, issued a scathing statement, cautioning against what he termed “compromised and induced media personalities and organisations” attacking the Super Eagles over unpaid bonuses. Jalla firmly asserted that players are fully entitled to their agreed-upon bonuses within established timelines, especially during major tournaments like AFCON.

Jalla vehemently criticized the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), accusing them of "gross mismanagement and incompetence," stating they had "two full years to work on the logistics of AFCON." He dismissed their usual excuses as unacceptable and posed pertinent questions regarding the NFF’s official delegation to Morocco, questioning if officials were also owed daily allowances and estacodes or if they personally funded their trips. He highlighted that official delegations typically receive payments in hard currency either before departure or upon arrival at international championships, irrespective of team performance, and questioned why players should be "crucified for demanding their legitimate entitlements." Despite the off-field issues, Jalla lauded the Super Eagles’ performance in the ongoing AFCON, noting the team is "gradually regaining its confidence," and stressed that the core issue in Nigerian football is not talent, but "the lack of quality administration." He called for discipline within the camp and the resignation of those in charge if they cannot uphold order.

Adding to the chorus of disapproval, opposition leader Peter Obi also criticized the NFF over the reports of unpaid match allowances. In a post on his official X handle, Obi expressed deep disappointment that Nigeria continues to be plagued by avoidable controversies, especially when Nigerians look to football for unity and relief amid growing economic hardship. "When will this embarrassment end? Can we get through a day without troubling news in this country?" Obi lamented. He decried the government’s priorities, stating it was unacceptable for a nation that routinely "writes off trillions in debts for government agencies and political allies" to struggle with basic financial commitments to its national team. Obi emphasized that the situation undermines Nigeria’s international image and dampens morale ahead of crucial fixtures, concluding with a call for accountability and reform: "Nigeria must learn to fulfill its obligations. A New Nigeria is POssible."