FLYING EAGLES PLAYERS DEMAND PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING BONUSES, ALLOWANCES FROM NFF
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Agency Report
Some members of Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have called on the Nigeria Football Federation to settle outstanding qualification bonuses and camp allowances owed over the past three years.
The affected players, drawn from the 2023 and 2025 squads, said they are yet to receive payments for participation in multiple tournaments, including the WAFU B Cup, U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
According to findings, the teams are owed qualification bonuses for six major tournaments, as well as pre-tournament camp allowances spanning approximately 65 days. Sources within the setup disclosed that each player and official was promised a $5,000 qualification bonus per tournament, alongside a daily camp allowance of $100.
Under coach Ladan Bosso, the 2023 Flying Eagles enjoyed a successful run, winning the WAFU B Cup and finishing third at the U-20 AFCON in Egypt to secure a place at the World Cup in Argentina, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to South Korea.
In 2025, led by Aliyu Zubair, the team finished runners-up at the WAFU B Cup and went on to secure qualification for the U-20 AFCON. They reached the semi-finals after defeating Senegal on penalties and eventually finished fourth, earning another World Cup ticket. However, their campaign ended in the round of 16 in Chile following a 4–0 defeat to Argentina.
Despite these achievements, some players expressed concern that the federation may only settle outstanding daily allowances while neglecting the agreed qualification bonuses.
“We have information that they don’t want to pay all the money. They may only clear the daily allowances and avoid the qualification bonuses,” one of the players alleged. He added that about 25 days of unpaid allowances in 2023 amount to roughly $2,500 per player, while the 2025 squad is owed about 40 days, estimated at $4,000 each.
Another source suggested the move to settle part of the debt may be linked to the federation’s upcoming elective congress, with efforts underway to reduce liabilities that could become contentious during the process.
Reacting to the claims, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, dismissed suggestions that the federation intends to default on payments, stating that steps are being taken to address the situation.
“If I were them, I would have waited to see. What evidence do they have that the NFF is planning to neglect part of the money?” Sanusi said.
He, however, acknowledged that payments may not be made in full immediately. “It can’t be all at once, but a substantial amount will be paid. All the matches they took part in were approved, and we are working with that,” he added.
The development adds to a series of financial disputes involving the federation, including bonus-related issues affecting the senior national team, the Super Eagles, during recent competitions.
In 2023, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports also summoned NFF officials over similar concerns regarding the Flying Eagles’ unpaid bonuses and allowances.
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