January 08, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has confirmed that outstanding match bonuses for the Super Eagles will be paid “today or tomorrow” following intervention by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Hon Dr Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, issued a statement on Thursday outlining steps taken to resolve administrative delays that had affected payments during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
According to the minister, all group-stage bonuses have been released and cleared through regulatory channels.
A fast-track foreign exchange conversion system has been introduced to accommodate players’ preference for payment in foreign currency.
Final transfers to domiciliary accounts are now in progress and should appear soon, Mrs Uzoka-Anite said.
The announcement follows reports of unrest within the squad over unpaid allowances ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against Algeria.
Players had reportedly expressed concern that bonuses agreed before the tournament had not been settled despite Nigeria’s strong performance, which has seen the team remain unbeaten and top the scoring charts.
Mrs Uzoka-Anite stated that the government and Central Bank had worked together to streamline procedures and prevent further hold-ups.
She added that future disbursements would be aligned with international standards to ensure quicker turnaround times.
National Sports Commission officials had previously insisted that the tournament budget was approved months earlier and that delays were linked to processing rather than funding shortfalls.
Nigeria will face Algeria in Marrakesh with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
The government emphasised its commitment to supporting the squad’s welfare as the team continues its campaign for a fourth continental title.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
