The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved to ensure that World Cup 2018 bonuses are concluded with the Super Eagles before the end of this year to avoid repetition of what transpired in Brazil three years ago.
At the Mundial in the South American country three years ago, Super Eagles players abandoned training ahead of a crucial second-round clash with France as a result of disagreement over bonuses.
It took the intervention of the former President Goodluck Jonathan who directed Senate President, Senator David Mark to fly into Brazil with the cash from Abuja to pay the players at their Campina camp before they returned to training. Nigeria eventually lost the match 1-0 to France.
Football aficionados attributed the loss in Brasilia to the dispute and the fact that Eagles stayed awake almost all the night leading to the match to pick up the cash.
But Thursday, NFF decided at its executive committee meeting that held at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge in Jos that bonuses agreements with the players must be concluded before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the General Assembly approved the NFF Financial Statement for the year 2016 and the 2018 Budget as proposed.
The Federation’s total budget for the year 2018 activities is the sum of N6,382,500,310.00. The guaranteed revenues from sponsors and government subvention are the sum of N3,062,500,310.00, leaving a shortfall of the sum of N3,320,000,000.00, which the Federation has to work to augment through sponsorships and special interventions.
Another far-reaching decision at the Congress also includes the adoption of the motion to the effect that future Elective Congresses be moved away from the FIFA World Cup year. Katsina has been selected to host the next Elective Congress.
“This is to guarantee stability in the system to prepare the national team for credible participation at the finals and to avoid the distractions and crises usually associated with the World Cup year
COMMENTS