Money Problems: Nigeria’s Road to AFCON Semifinals
Nigeria's luck seems to be on the rise, as its soccer team secured one of the four tickets to the AFCON semifinals, which will be held this Wednesday against Morocco. The Super Eagles beat Algeria 2-0 today, in a match that did not reveal the struggles the team faced just to play in Marrakech. Their victory showcased incredible resilience in the face of adversity; unpaid AFCON bonuses almost led the players to boycott the game. The Nigerian soccer team came dangerously close to missing the match after their government took an inordinately long time to compensate the team members following four victories.
Nigeria just sealed their position as one of the best four teams of the African Continent after beating Algeria in a match that was quickly decided after the first few minutes of the second half. However, only 24 hours before that encounter, Nigerian players were unsure they would even play against Algeria, after not receiving the payment bonuses the Nigerian Sports Ministry owed them. A total of $5,000 per goal in the group stage and $10,000 per goal in the knockout round added up to $80,000 owed to each team member. This is not the first time Nigerian soccer professionals have not been adequately paid; their bonuses were not rewarded before the World Cup Qualification playoff game against DR Congo. On that occasion, even the team manager, Eric Chelle, had not been adequately remunerated. A month has passed since then, and things have not changed much. This time, team captain Wilfred Ndidi, a midfielder for Beşiktaş, offered to pay for everyone's bonuses, something that he fortunately did not have to do.
Nigerians have been forced to use the suspension of their training and competition as a threat to receive the promised payments. The Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, had to intervene to fast-track the players' compensation. This situation further showcases how a country's individual economic situation can affect soccer, and what's more, a country's sporting development. Fans can be relieved that the government has compensated the players for all AFCON games, except the round 16 match against Mozambique, which will be paid later. Nigeria might not be headed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but they still have a solid chance at the AFCON. Hopefully, money does not stop them from becoming champions.
