The bonuses cover players through the Round of 16 match and are valued at $30,000 per player.
Bonus disputes are common in African football, with federations often refusing to pay their players for participation in major tournaments, including the World Cup. This has created a climate of distrust and players are threatening not to train or play until the bonuses have been paid out in advance.
Nigerian players refused to travel for Brazil’s 2014 World Cup before fees were paid, and rumors of unpaid bonuses resurfaced during the 2023 AFCON.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, blamed the payment delays on foreign exchange problems, saying problems with the Nigerian economy often resulted in dollar shortages that can delay international transfers.
Following Nigeria’s comfortable 4-0 win over Mozambique earlier this week, players began to express concerns over the delayed payments
Captain Wilfried Ndidi even offered to personally guarantee the bonuses so that players would train for Saturday’s quarter-final.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup but have a 100% record in Morocco so far.
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