AFCON 2025: FG clears Super Eagles’ group-stage bonuses, averts boycott

By Johnson Arua

The Federal Government has cleared all outstanding group-stage bonuses owed to Nigeria’s national team at the ongoing AFCON 2025, ending delays that had threatened to disrupt the Super Eagles’ campaign.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a statement posted on her verified X handle on Wednesday.

She explained that the payments were made possible through coordinated efforts between the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to streamline foreign exchange processing and accelerate disbursements to players.

The intervention followed reports that players were yet to receive bonuses for four consecutive wins at the tournament and had threatened to boycott training sessions and travel arrangements ahead of their quarter-final clash with Algeria if the issue persisted.

Uzoka-Anite said the steps taken were aimed at preventing a recurrence of past disputes over unpaid allowances and establishing a predictable payment framework in line with international best practices.

“I am pleased to provide an update on the administrative progress regarding the match bonuses for our national team at AFCON 2025,” she said.

“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria have successfully streamlined the foreign exchange processing to ensure our players are rewarded without further delay.”

According to the Minister, all group-stage bonuses have been fully released and have cleared the necessary regulatory processes. She added that a fast-track conversion mechanism has also been put in place to enable funds to be converted into foreign currency based on players’ preferences.

She noted that final transfers to players’ domiciliary accounts were already underway and expected to reflect within 24 hours, stressing that the government remains focused on players’ welfare as the Super Eagles advance into the knockout stages.