NSC to the rescue as U-23 Eagles threaten boycott

Nifemi Daniel

The National Sports Commission on Thursday came to the rescue of the Nigeria Football Federation after players of the U-23 Eagles threatened to boycott the U23 AFCON final match against Algeria on Saturday over their unpaid bonuses and allowances.

It would be recalled that Coach Samson Siasia prior to the tournament complained about the non-payment of his three month salaries with emphasis on the accumulated camp allowances and bonuses of the players but he was issued a query by his employers and warned not to make the issue a public one again.

The coach had to obtain a loan from a friend in the United States last Sunday to pay each player the sum of $100, after they booked their place in the semifinal of the competition.

But the players on Thursday insisted that they won’t play Saturday’s final against Algeria if their allowances are not sorted out.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, had to order the immediate payment of all outstanding match bonuses and allowances owed the players and officials.

The Minister was unhappy that the players were being owed a backlog of allowances and bonuses since their last competition.

“This is an emergency problem we inherited and I have directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the Director General, Alhassan Yakmut, to source for intervention funds to settle the players before this Saturday,” Dalung said.

“The players have done extremely well under the harsh situation; moreover a workman deserves his pay.

“We don’t want negative stories of non-payment of players’ allowances which are capable of tarnishing the image of the country, so I have pleaded with the coaches and players to remain focused on their final game billed for Saturday as the ministry is making effort to pay their outstanding bonuses and camp allowances before Saturday.”

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