World Cup: NFF signs wage agreement with Eagles, says money won’t be an issue

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has assured Nigerians and the Super Eagles that there will be no challenges over funds at the 2018 World Cup. 

Shehu Dikko, NFF vice-president, said financial hitches will not mar the Super Eagles’ participation at the World Cup in Russia.

The federation on Wednesday reached an agreement with the players on pay structure for the mundial.

“We also agreed on preparation, such as how much players will be paid for the friendly matches, including how and when the monies would be paid,” Dikko said.

“We even delved into how the NFF would apply the funds due to it from FIFA after paying the players their share.

“The agreement represents the full and final understanding between the NFF and the team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and not subject to review or negotiations, except there is a review by FIFA of what it has approved and published as prize money for the participating countries.

“We have opted for this international best practice in order to fully motivate the team and ensure there are no distractions or discontent before and during the tournament.”

Speaking in the same vein, Amaju Pinnick, NFF president, said: “We communicated the honourable minister of sports on the negotiations and he endorsed the agreement on behalf of the government.

“He also applauded the NFF for the bold step to sort out all issues that could militate against Nigeria having a great outing at the World Cup finals in Russia.”

Reacting to the development, captain John Mikel Obi said the players are “very happy and excited” on what he described as a departure from past experiences.

“This is the first time since I started playing for the senior team that I would see everything regarding preparation and bonuses and allowances put down in black and white and a binding agreement executed,” he said.

“It is reassuring that we now have a federation leadership so committed to making everything work that they arranged this meeting and allowed the players to contribute and then set out to sign the agreement.”

At the last World Cup in Brazil, the Super Eagles missed a training session in protest over bonuses, allowances and their share of the income from FIFA.