The Federal Government has announced that all group-stage bonuses owed to the Super Eagles at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations have been paid and should begin reflecting in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, made this known on Thursday while reacting to reports suggesting that members of the national team were contemplating skipping training sessions and might refuse to travel to Marrakesh for their quarter-final encounter against Algeria.
In a statement shared via her official X account, Uzoka-Anite said the issue of unpaid bonuses had been addressed through joint efforts by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria have successfully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice,” she said.
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She clarified that all bonuses earned by the players during the group stage of the competition had been fully processed and had passed through the necessary regulatory channels.
“All group-stage bonuses were fully released and have now cleared the necessary regulatory stages,” the minister stated.
Uzoka-Anite further explained that a fast-track payment arrangement was adopted to accommodate the players’ preference for foreign-currency payments. “We have implemented a fast-track conversion process to move funds into foreign currency, honouring the players’ preferences,” she said.
According to her, the final phase of the payment process is already ongoing, with transfers to the players’ domiciliary accounts currently being executed. “The final transfers to domiciliary accounts are currently in flight. Players can expect these funds to reflect starting today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday),” she added.
The minister emphasised that the government remains committed to prioritising the welfare and morale of the team as they progress into the knockout stages of the tournament. “Our focus remains entirely on supporting the team’s welfare so they can maintain their incredible momentum in the knockout rounds,” she said.
She also reassured Nigerians that the administration would ensure off-field matters do not interfere with the team’s performance at the competition. “We move forward with one goal: Bringing the trophy home!” she said.
The announcement is expected to calm tensions surrounding the team’s preparations ahead of their quarter-final match as the Super Eagles continue their AFCON 2025 campaign.
