The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that all financial entitlements for Super Eagles players and officials participating in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have been approved and are currently being processed for payment.
Dikko made the clarification following reports that players were considering boycotting training and travel arrangements ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final match against Algeria in Marrakech.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dikko disclosed that President Bola Tinubu approved the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 budget on November 14, 2025, ensuring 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 that while approval and disbursement were separate stages, players had been assured that all funds had been approved and were in the process of being released.
“Approving the money is one thing, processing it is another, but the players know the funds have been approved,” he added.
According to the NSC chairman, extensive meetings were held with the NFF, the team captain, co-captain, and senior players to negotiate and 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 stressed that the players understood and accepted their incentive structure before the tournament commenced.
“The players know exactly what they are playing for and what their bonuses are at every stage,” he noted.
He further disclosed that the only payments requested in cash were daily allowances, which have already been settled.
“The only cash request was daily allowances, and that has been sorted and made available,” Dikko said, adding that match bonuses had been approved and were currently undergoing processing.
“The bonuses have been approved. The process is ongoing and the money will come,” he assured.
He also confirmed that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were working together to ensure timely disbursement of funds.
“The Ministry of Finance and CBN are on this, so everything will come on time,” Dikko stated.
The Super Eagles have enjoyed an impressive AFCON campaign so far, winning all their matches and scoring 12 goals en route to the quarter-finals. Nigeria will face Algeria’s Desert Foxes for a place in the semi-finals, with the team expected to travel from Fès to Marrakech on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s 5 p.m. encounter at the Stade de Marrakech.
