The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has assured that all financial entitlements for Super Eagles players and officials have been settled, putting to rest reports of a potential boycott of training and travel ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Algeria.
Dikko said the resolution follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the team’s AFCON 2025 budget in November 2025, which aligned the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, and the players on all financial matters.
“The president approved the entire AFCON budget on November 14, 2025. From our end, the funding has been fully cleared,” Dikko explained. He clarified that while approval and processing are separate stages, the funds have been authorised and are currently being released.
The NSC chairman added that meetings were held with the NFF, the team captain, co-captain, and senior players to agree on tournament bonuses. “We sat down, negotiated, and agreed on what the players are entitled to up to the final. Everybody is clear,” he said.
Dikko also emphasised that players were fully aware of their incentives before the tournament began. “The players know exactly what they are playing for and what their bonuses are at every stage,” he stated.
Regarding cash requests, Dikko said only daily allowances were requested in cash and have already been settled. Match bonuses, he confirmed, have been approved and are in the process of being paid. “The Ministry of Finance and CBN are on this, so everything will come on time,” he added.
The Super Eagles have maintained a perfect record at the tournament, winning all four matches and scoring 12 goals to advance to the quarter-finals. Nigeria is scheduled to depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of the clash with Algeria’s Desert Foxes at the Stade de Marrakech, set for 5 p.m. on Saturday.
