AFCON 2025: NSC clears Super Eagles’ allowance dispute as Peter Obi slams ‘embarrassing’ delays

By James Ike

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has dismissed reports of an impending boycott by Super Eagles players, insisting that all financial entitlements due to the team have been approved and largely settled ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final clash against Algeria.

Dikko’s clarification followed widespread reports suggesting that players were threatening to skip training and decline travel to Marrakech over unpaid bonuses and allowances.

He explained that President Bola Tinubu approved the Super Eagles’ full AFCON 2025 budget as far back as November 14, 2025, providing a framework agreed upon by the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the players.
“The president approved the entire AFCON budget on November 14, 2025. From our end, the funding has been fully cleared,” Dikko said. He noted, however, that while approval had been granted, the actual release of funds involved additional administrative processes.

“Approving the money is one thing, processing it is another, but the players know the funds have been approved,” he added.

According to the NSC chairman, extensive meetings were held before the tournament involving the NFF, team captain, co-captain and senior players, during which tournament bonuses were negotiated and agreed up to the final stage of the competition.

“We sat down, negotiated and agreed on what the players are entitled to up to the final. Everybody is clear,” Dikko said, stressing that the players entered the tournament fully aware of their incentives at every stage.

He disclosed that the only payments requested in cash were daily allowances, which, he said, had already been settled. Match bonuses, he added, had been approved and were currently undergoing payment processing.

“The bonuses have been approved. The process is ongoing and the money will come,” he assured, adding that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were working to ensure timely disbursement.

“The Ministry of Finance and CBN are on this, so everything will come on time,” Dikko stated.

The Super Eagles have enjoyed an impressive AFCON 2025 campaign, winning all their matches and scoring 12 goals en route to the quarter-finals.

Nigeria will face Algeria’s Desert Foxes for a semi-final ticket and are expected to depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s encounter at the Stade de Marrakech, scheduled for 5 p.m.

Peter Obi Reacts

Meanwhile, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised the lingering controversy over unpaid allowances, describing it as an embarrassment that undermines national morale and Nigeria’s global image.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Obi expressed concern that the country continues to generate negative headlines at moments when citizens need unity and positive distractions.

He said the Super Eagles, through their recent victories, had become a source of pride for Nigerians at home and abroad, yet were being subjected to unnecessary distractions.

“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity—something the Super Eagles have been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide—these same players are being denied their basic match allowances,” Obi wrote.

He questioned national priorities, arguing that while huge sums are written off as debts or spent on what he termed grandiose, self-serving projects, authorities struggle to meet basic obligations to national representatives.

“A country that writes off trillions in debts and squanders money on grandiose projects now struggles to pay basic match bonuses owed to our players,” he said.

Obi warned that the situation places undue pressure on the players ahead of a crucial quarter-final and damages Nigeria’s international reputation. He insisted that failing to honour pre-tournament agreements was unacceptable.

“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match. Nigeria must learn to fulfil its obligations,” Obi added, concluding with his familiar refrain that “a New Nigeria is possible.”