Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has pledged to personally pay the team’s outstanding match bonuses if the Federal Government fails to meet its promise ahead of Nigeria’s quarter-final clash at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ndidi made the commitment following concerns within the team over unpaid bonuses for matches already played at the tournament.
The midfielder, who spoke through a post shared by BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji on X, said he took the decision to prevent the issue from affecting the team’s focus before Saturday’s encounter with Algeria.
According to him, he had repeatedly urged the players to remain professional and committed, adding that he assured both the technical crew and players that he would cover the bonuses if payment was not made on time.
“I don’t want anything to distract us from our preparations. I have told the players and staff that I will personally take care of the bonuses if the authorities fail to do so before the match,” Ndidi was quoted as saying.
Reports had earlier emerged that members of the Super Eagles were considering boycotting training and travel arrangements due to the delay in payments.
Reacting to the situation, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, explained that funds for the group stage bonuses had already been released and were undergoing final processing.
She noted that new measures had been put in place to ensure faster disbursement of payments, including direct transfers in the players’ preferred foreign currency.
“The final transfers to the players’ domiciliary accounts are currently in progress and should reflect within 24 hours,” the minister said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles arrived in Marrakech on Thursday and held a training session ahead of their quarter-final clash with Algeria.
Nigeria are chasing a fourth AFCON title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
