The National Sports Commission has confirmed that all financial entitlements owed to Super Eagles players and officials for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been approved, with payments already underway.
Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, made the clarification following reports that some players had threatened to boycott training and delay their trip to Marrakech ahead of Saturday’s clash with Algeria.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, Dikko said President Bola Tinubu approved the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 budget in November 2025, ensuring alignment among the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation and the players.
“The president approved the full AFCON budget on November 14, 2025. From our side, funding has been fully cleared,” he said.
Dikko noted, however, that approval and actual disbursement were separate processes, stressing that while the funds had been approved, payment processing was ongoing.
“Approval is one thing, processing is another, but the players are aware that the money has been approved,” he explained.
According to him, extensive meetings were held with the NFF, the team captain, co-captain and senior players, during which all tournament bonuses were negotiated and agreed upon.
“We discussed, negotiated and agreed on what the players are entitled to up to the final. Everyone is clear on the terms,” Dikko said, adding that the players accepted the incentive structure before the tournament began.
He further disclosed that the only request for cash payments was for daily allowances, which had already been settled.
“The only cash request was daily allowances, and that has been sorted out and made available,” he said.
Match bonuses, he added, had also been approved and were currently being processed, with assurances that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria were handling the disbursement to ensure timely payment.
“The bonuses have been approved. The process is ongoing and the funds will be released,” Dikko stated.
The Super Eagles have so far recorded a perfect run at the tournament, winning all their matches and scoring 12 goals on their way to the quarter-finals.
Nigeria are set to face Algeria’s Desert Foxes for a place in the semi-finals and are expected to travel from Fès to Marrakech on Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s encounter at the Stade de Marrakech, scheduled for 5 p.m.
