Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has stepped in to assure Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles squad will be paid their bonus money after players boycotted training in Campinas on Thursday.
The players downed tools after a row with officials from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) concerning the structure of their bonus payments after successfully qualifying from Group E. Nigeria are due to face France in their last 16 tie on Monday and it is believed that they requested all bonuses owed were paid to them before departing for Brasília.
However President Jonathan was forced to intervene with a personal phone call after NFF told the squad they will not receive the full amount until after the tournament when they have received their prize money from Fifa. Nigerian website Kickoff has reported that Sports Minister Tamuno Danagogo has now been detailed to fly into Brazil with the payment.
“The President called them this morning to assure them that the sports minister is coming in with their money,” a top NFF official was quoted as saying.
A similar situation developed before last year’s Confederations Cup, when Nigeria arrived later than scheduled before being eliminated in the group stages.
But captain Joseph Yobo has insisted that the issue is now behind them and the players are fully focussed on their meeting with France.
“We are here to play for our country,” he said.
“I can tell you as team captain that the team will travel to Brasília today and we will train, and play against France.”
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