THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has responded to growing concerns raised by members of Nigeria’s men’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, over the non-payment of their outstanding bonuses and allowances.
Some members of the 2023 and 2025 squads have called on the federation to settle all unpaid qualification bonuses and pre-tournament camp allowances accrued over the past three years, according to reports.
Findings by News Point Nigeria Sport indicate that players and officials from both squads—who participated in the WAFU B Cup, U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the U-20 World Cup in 2023 and 2025are yet to receive qualification bonuses for six major tournaments, as well as camp allowances covering approximately 65 days.
Under coach Ladan Bosso, the Flying Eagles secured qualification for the 2023 U-20 AFCON and also defeated the Benin Republic to win the WAFU B Cup. The team went on to finish third at the AFCON in Egypt and qualified for the U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where they were eliminated by South Korea in the quarter-finals.
Two years later, under coach Aliyu Zubair, the team reached the WAFU B Cup final but lost 1–0 to Ivory Coast. Despite the defeat, they had already secured qualification for the U-20 AFCON. They progressed to the semi-finals after defeating Senegal on penalties, thereby earning a World Cup ticket. The team eventually finished fourth at the tournament and later exited the World Cup in Chile after a 4–0 loss to Argentina in the round of 16.
According to a source within the federation, each player and backroom staff member was promised a qualification bonus of $5,000 per tournament, while pre-tournament camp allowances were pegged at $100 per day.
It was further gathered that the NFF introduced the qualification bonus structure after the board led by former president Amaju Pinnick scrapped match bonuses for all age-grade teams in 2017.
However, some players allege that the federation is more inclined to pay daily allowances while avoiding the qualification bonuses.
“We have information that they don’t want to pay all the money. We are told they only want to pay the outstanding daily allowances, which may mean avoiding the qualification bonuses. In 2023, there are about 25 days of outstanding allowances, which is about $2,500 each, and in 2025, there are about 40 days, amounting to $4,000 each,” one of the team members said.
Another source indicated that the federation is making moves to offset part of the debt ahead of its upcoming elective congress.
“At the last executive meeting, they said it was important to reduce some of the debts, especially at the Flying Eagles level, so it will not be used against them during the elections,” the source disclosed.
Responding to the claims, the General Secretary of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, said the federation is already working toward settling the outstanding payments.
“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.
When asked whether the federation would clear all debts soon, he noted that payments would be made in phases.
“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.