All outstanding financial entitlements owed to Super Eagles players and officials have been resolved, according to the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, following reports of unrest within the camp.
Dikko spoke after claims emerged that players had threatened to boycott training and the team’s trip to Marrakech ahead of Saturday’s AFCON 2025 quarter-final against Algeria.
Speaking to newsmen, the NSC chairman said President Bola Tinubu approved the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 budget on 14 November 2025, bringing what he described as alignment between the commission, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the players.
“The president approved the entire AFCON budget on November 14, 2025. From our end, the funding has been fully cleared,” he said.
Dikko acknowledged that while approval and processing were separate stages, players had been assured that funds were approved and already in the system.
“Approving the money is one thing, processing it is another, but the players know the funds have been approved,” he added.
He revealed meetings were held with the NFF, the team captain, co-captain and senior players, during which tournament bonuses were negotiated and agreed through to the final.
“We sat down, negotiated and agreed on what the players are entitled to up to the final. Everybody is clear,” he said, insisting that the players accepted the terms before the competition began.
According to Dikko, the only payments requested in cash were daily allowances, which he said had already been settled, while match bonuses had been approved and were undergoing payment processing.
“The bonuses have been approved. The process is ongoing and the money will come,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria were working to ensure timely disbursement.
It was also revealed that the Super Eagles have won all their matches so far at the tournament, scoring 12 goals to reach the quarter-finals.
Nigeria are expected to travel from Fès to Marrakech on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s tie against Algeria’s Desert Foxes at the Stade de Marrakech, scheduled for 5pm.
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