Super Eagles Bonus Money Crisis: The Team Boycott Today's Flight to Brazil

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have boycotted their Thursday evening flight to Brazil because of a cut in their match bonus, sources in Namibia have said.

The eagles were expected to leave Namibia for Brazil to represent Africa at the FIFA Confederation cup that commences on Saturday, June 15.

The team had played a 1-1 draw against host Namibia, in Windhoek, in a World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday.

They were supposed to leave for Brazil to commence preparation for the Confederations cup. with their first match scheduled for Monday against Tahiti.

The situation

The management of the Nigeria Football Association, claiming it is broke, cut the players match bonus to $2,500 from $5000. The players, however, insist that they are being short changed and that the former sum be paid to them.

The football association had cut the bonus for a drawn match for the team from $5,000 to $2,500; while the match bonus for a win was slashed from $10,000 to $5,000.

In revolt, the boys refused to board their flight to Brazil even after the chairman of the Nigeria football Association, Aminu Maigari, pleaded with them to make do with what they will be paid.

It is not clear the alternative arrangement that would be made to ensure that the team arrives in good time for their Brazil fixtures. Demola Olajire, the football association’s spokesperson, could not be reached as his telephone numbers were unavailable as at press time. The mobile telephone of Musa Amadu, the association’s general secretary, was also switched off.