Siasia rescues ‘Cash strapped’ NFF, gives players $2300

Nifemi Daniel

The financial crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is already affecting the U-23 Eagles who are currently participating at the African U-23 Championship in Senegal as the team head coach, Samson Siasia, at the weekend came to the rescue of the NFF by boosting the morale of the players with monetary reward.

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 the NFF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports are yet to remedy the situation

It was scooped that Samson Siasia had to obtain a loan from a friend in the United States to appease the players pending when their allowances would come from the ministry.

The coach, last Sunday, paid each player a sum of $100, after they booked their place in the semifinal of the competition.

Read also: U-23 Eagles ready for Senegal upset – Siasia

“It is unfortunate that this is happening when the boys are desirous of qualifying for the Rio Olympics in Brazil next summer. The ministry should have long made provisions for this and not wait for the NFF to do it,” a source in the camp revealed.

He added that: “We have not heard anything from the NFF and National Sports Commission regarding the allowances and welfare of the players in Senegal.”

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