The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that all outstanding financial entitlements owed to Super Eagles players and officials have been approved, with payments currently being processed.
Dikko’s clarification comes in response to recent reports suggesting that members of the national team were considering boycotting training sessions and refusing to travel to Marrakech for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 clash against Algeria over unpaid bonuses.
According to the NSC chairman, President Bola Tinubu approved the entire AFCON 2025 budget as far back as November 14, 2025, ensuring alignment among the NSC, 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,” Dikko stated.
He, however, noted that while approval of funds had been completed, processing and actual disbursement involved additional administrative steps. Nonetheless, he assured that the players were aware that the funds had been approved and were already being released.
“Approving the money is one thing, processing it is another. But the players know that the funds have been approved,” he explained.
Dikko also disclosed that extensive meetings were held with the NFF, the team captain, co-captain, and other senior players to agree on bonus structures for the tournament.
“We sat down, negotiated, and agreed on what the players are entitled to right up to the final. Everyone is clear on the arrangements,” he said.
He added that the players fully understood and accepted the incentive framework before the competition began.
“The players know exactly what they are playing for and what their bonuses are at every stage of the competition,” Dikko stated.
According to him, the only request for cash payments was for daily allowances, which have already been settled and made available to the team.
“The only cash request was for daily allowances, and that has been sorted out,” he confirmed.
Dikko further assured that match bonuses had been approved and were currently undergoing payment processing.
“The bonuses have been approved. The process is ongoing, and the money will be released,” he said.
He noted that both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were actively involved to ensure timely disbursement of the funds.
“The Ministry of Finance and the CBN are working on this, so everything will be paid on time,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles have enjoyed an impressive AFCON 2025 campaign so far, winning all their matches and scoring 12 goals to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Nigeria is set to face Algeria’s Desert Foxes in a high-stakes encounter for a place in the semi-finals. The team is expected to depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of the blockbuster clash scheduled for Saturday at 5:00 pm at the Stade de Marrakech.
