The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that all financial entitlements owed to Super Eagles players and officials have been resolved.
Dikko’s clarification follows reports that players were threatening to boycott training and the team’s trip to Marrakech ahead of Saturday’s AFCON 2025 match against Algeria.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dikko said President Bola Tinubu approved the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 budget on November 14, 2025, ensuring alignment between the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the players.
“The president approved the entire AFCON budget in November. From our end, the funding has been fully cleared,” he said.
Dikko, however, noted that while approval had been granted, processing payments takes additional time, assuring players that funds were already being released.
“Approval is one thing, processing is another, but the players know the funds have been approved,” he explained.
He added that meetings were held with the NFF, the team captain, co-captain and senior players, where tournament bonuses were negotiated and agreed upon.
“We sat down and agreed on what the players are entitled to up to the final. Everybody is clear,” Dikko said, stressing that the players accepted the incentive structure before the tournament began.
According to him, the only payments requested in cash were daily allowances, which have already been settled, while match bonuses have been approved and are currently being processed.
“The Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria are working to ensure timely disbursement,” he added.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles have won all their matches so far, scoring 12 goals to reach the quarter-finals.
Nigeria will face Algeria’s Desert Foxes for a semi-final spot, with the team expected to depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s 5 p.m. clash at the Stade de Marrakech.
