Reports have emerged of what really transpired behind the scenes in the Super Eagles/Nigeria Football Federation bonus row that threatened to scuttle the reigning African continental cup champions chances of reaching the country's first ever FIFA World Cup quarter-finals when they tackle the Franch national team in Brasilia tomorrow.
Reports have emerged of what really transpired behind the scenes in the Super Eagles/Nigeria Football Federation bonus row that threatened to scuttle the reigning African continental cup champions chances of reaching the country's first ever FIFA World Cup quarter-finals when they tackle the Franch national team in Brasilia tomorrow.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
Bonus standoff isn't a new phenomenon as far as African teams are concerned as it recently happened with the Black stars of Ghana and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
It is usually, as a result, of mistrust between the players and the mostly corrupt football administrators. Typically before any tournament an agreement is reached on what
is to be received by the players in the event of win, draw or loss but in most cases the officials renege on promises made in order to enrich themselves with funds meant for players
The Aminu Maigari led Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had already promised $10,000 to Super Eagles players in case of a win, $5,000 for a draw and $2,500 in case the team is defeated. Also, $30,000 was to be given to each Eagles player if they qualified to the knockout phase of the World cup in Brazil.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });
After Nigeria's match against Argentina which sealed qualification to the 2nd round,the players expected to receive their match bonus but the NFF Chairman Maigari had a meeting with the team on Wednesday during the meeting he completely avoided the issue and by Thursday rumors started spreading in the camp that the players would only be paid half of the agreed bonus for qualifying for the second round, this rattled the players especially the home based players who are heavily relying on the bonuses to improve their lives back home.
The four home based players: Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egweke, Kunle Odunlami and Ejike Uzoenyi led a protest to team captain Joseph Yobo who has already promised to fight for them because he knows how vital the bonus is for them.
“Whatever bonus I get from this tournament isn't going to change my life but it will go a long way for some of my colleagues that are playing in the domestic league and as the captain it is my duty to fight for their rights" Yobo said before agreeing in unison to embark on a training strike on Friday as nothing was done about the said bonus.
Maigari, who has already gotten wind of the players, strike action avoided the team in Porto Alegre and flew early Friday (ahead of the team) to Brasilia where the team is set to tackle France tomorrow.
Captain Joseph Yobo eventually reached out to Senate President David Mark who spent two days with the team in Brazil and promised to look into whatever issues they might encounter at the event(sensing how untrustworthy the NFF are) he brought President Goodluck into the picture before the row was finally settled with each Eagles player set to receive $30,000 knockout bonus before, the team files out for the game against France in the round of 16 tomorrow.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });