Super Eagles ROCKED by Unpaid AFCON Bonuses and Welfare Issues

Reports indicate significant discontent within the Super Eagles squad regarding the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) handling of player welfare, including unpaid bonuses and reduced allowances. This dissatisfaction comes shortly after Nigeria's recent 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Madagascar at home but suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.

A primary point of contention stems from unpaid bonuses, specifically the remuneration for the third-place match against Egypt at the AFCON 2027. While players reportedly received bonuses and allowances for previous games, the payment for the Egypt match remains outstanding. Adding to their grievances, the NFF has unilaterally reduced player allowances without any prior communication, a decision that impacted their earnings during the recent qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Beyond financial concerns, the players have also voiced unhappiness regarding the NFF's overall approach to welfare and logistics. During the away match against Guinea-Bissau, players and coach Eric Chelle openly complained about the poor quality of the pitch. This issue was so significant that it led to a dressing room protest by some Super Eagles players just before the game. Furthermore, inadequate logistics and poor travel arrangements have been cited as additional sources of discomfort and dissatisfaction among the squad members.

Although no player has yet publicly aired these grievances, sources suggest that if the current situation of neglected payments and welfare issues persists, the players may be compelled to adopt a more direct approach to address their concerns. The current international break has concluded, with players returning to their respective clubs, but the underlying issues with the NFF remain a point of significant friction.