The players of the Super Eagles of Nigeria blew up the chance of earning a cash bonus of over USD 870,000.00 as bonus package from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) after failing to beat the Black Stars of Ghana to secure the ticket to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the NFF has revealed.
The Black Stars of Ghana defeated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on away goal rule to qualify to the World Cup in Qatar, after holding the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the final play-off match in Abuja, following a goalless draw in Kumasi three days before.
According to the NFF, it had a standard agreement with the playing body of the Super Eagles, to allocate 35% of the total participation fee of USD 2.5 million for the qualified teams to the World Cup to them.
All 32 teams that qualified to the World Cup Qatar 2022 will receive a participation fee of USD 2.5 million, and the NFF actually assured the Super Eagles that they will be dashed a whooping USD 35% of the total amount, which will total up to USD 875,000.00 for the entire 25 players who were invited for the double header against the Black Stars of Ghana.
By implication, each player of the 25-man squad would have been entitled to an amount of USD 35,000.00.
As part of the resolutions made by the Executive Committee of the NFF from its meeting on Tuesday April 5, the NFF announced that it had done everything possible for the Super Eagles players and technical team to enable them beat Ghana to the ticket to Qatar, but the team simply failed to deliver.
“It noted that the meeting was very cordial, as well as established and appreciated the fact that all that was needed to be done and/or provided the team and the technical crew to ensure a positive outcome on the pitch against Ghana was delivered, and in a most professional manner.
“In addition, unique motivational strategy was put in place to spur the coaches and the players, such as offering the technical crew a two-and-half year contract. The standard agreement NFF had in place with the players that they will share 35% of the qualifying bonus Nigeria will earn by participating at the Qatar 2022 World Cup was also emphasized”, the NFF revealed in a statement on Wednesday.
Following the detrimental failure of the team and the technical team, the Executive Committee has “mandated its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to, within the next 5 days, make recommendations to the Executive Committee on coaching crews for the Super Eagles, the CHAN team, the U20 Boys (Flying Eagles) and the U17 Boys (Golden Eaglets) ahead of upcoming assignments”.
