The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has said that all financial entitlements owed to Super Eagles players and officials have been fully resolved.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dikko’s comments followed media reports suggesting that players had threatened to boycott training and refuse to travel to Marrakech ahead of Saturday’s match against Algeria.
Speaking with NAN, Dikko said President Bola Tinubu approved the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 budget in November 2025, a move he said brought alignment among the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the players.
“The President approved the entire AFCON budget on November 14, 2025. From our end, the funding has been fully cleared,” Dikko said.
He explained, however, that budget approval and fund disbursement are separate processes, while reassuring players that the approved funds were already being processed.
“Approving the money is one thing; processing it is another. But the players are aware that the funds have been approved,” he added.
Dikko said extensive 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 all the way to the final. Everyone is clear,” he said.
According to him, the players fully understood and accepted their incentive structure before the tournament commenced.
“The players know exactly what they are playing for and the bonuses attached to each stage,” Dikko stated.
He further clarified that the only payments requested in cash were daily allowances, which he said had already been settled.
“The only cash request was for daily allowances, and that has been sorted out and made available,” he said.
Dikko added that match bonuses had also been approved and were currently undergoing payment processing.
“The bonuses have been approved, and the process is ongoing. The money will be released,” he said.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were working to ensure timely disbursement of the funds.
“The Ministry of Finance and the CBN are on it, so everything will be paid on time,” Dikko assured.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles have won all their matches so far at the tournament, scoring 12 goals on their way to the quarter-finals.
Nigeria will face Algeria’s Desert Foxes for a place in the semi-finals and are expected to depart Fès for Marrakech on Thursday ahead of the encounter scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Stade de Marrakech.
