FIFA U20 World Cup: Backlogs Of Unpaid Bonuses May Hamper Flying Eagles Performance – Officials

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are yet to redeem promises of qualifying bonuses to the Flying Eagles for both the WAFU U20 AFCON qualifiers as well as the U20 AFCON. According to reports, each player is owed the sum of $10,000 for emerging champions at the WAFU B championship and picking the World Cup ticket at the just-concluded CAF U20 African Nations Cup.

Several officials confirmed that the Flying Eagles have not been paid the two qualifying bonuses.

It was gathered that based on the promises by the NFF, each player was to receive $5000 for finishing top of the WAFU B qualifiers for the U20 AFCON and another $5,000 for booking their passage to next month’s FIFA U20 World Cup now scheduled for Argentina.

This week, the NFF in a communique charged the team led by coach Ladan Bosso to win the U20 World Cup after what they described as “a below-par” outing at the recent U20 AFCON in Egypt, where the team finished third.

An official told SCORENigeria: “They want the team to win the World Cup, but they have not paid bonuses promised this same team.

“Last May in Niger Republic, they topped the WAFU qualifiers and almost a year after the Flying Eagles have not been paid what was promised them.

“Are these people really serious and know what it takes to run football in this country?”

“The NFF are hugely indebted that all the coaches of the various national teams are owed backlog of salaries.

“The flagship of Nigeria football, the Super Eagles, are also yet to receive bonuses and allowances running into millions of US Dollars,” officials said.

The FIFA U20 World Cup which commences on 20th May, 2023 will be hosted by the most successful country at the tournament, Argentina.

The two times World Cup finalists, Nigeria will begin their campaign on 21st May against Dominican Republic.