NFF struggles with huge debt after AFCON success

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari
| credits: www.newnigeriannewspapers.com

It has been learnt on authority that huge debt profile of the Nigeria Football Federation has largely contributed to the issues of delayed salaries and match-win bonuses owed the Super Eagles. The PUNCH gathered that the failure of the Government to grant the NFF a special grant for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament has largely contributed to the state of affairs with the football house.

Contrary to widely-held assumption that the N750m the NFF used to execute the competition which Nigeria won in South Africa was a special budget for the event, it has been explained that the said amount was actually 50 per cent of their total budget for 2013.

A member of the administration who pleaded anonymity, because he was not empowered to speak on the matter publicly, told our correspondent that the NFF members are hoping that the victory in South Africa could help change the tide for them by way of donations and sponsorships.

He said, “The truth is that the team (Super Eagles) were not really counted on to go all the way and win the cup. Under that circumstance, it was utterly difficult pressing for special grant for them to execute the competition. In the past, they got such concession but it was not available on the road to 2013.

“What was done for them was to get them half of their total approved budget for 2013 even while it was still being finalised by the government. The approved budget for NFF is N1.5bn for the year and so they were able to get half and that was the reason the money could not be released until January. Perhaps they should have reduced the bonuses they paid the Eagles over there (in South Africa) except they were looking for every opportunity to get the best out of the players.

“So the big question now is how to execute the age-grade competitions; the World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup.”

The Eagles are still owed the bonus for the final they won 1-0 over Burkina Faso.

On Monday the junior national team, the Flying Eagles, left the country for a playing tour of Egypt without their coach John Obuh. The coach was left behind following a mild drama at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja as he protested the non-payment of his salary allegedly totalling 13 months. Obuh, who later spoke to reporters, said he was owed three months and not 13.

We could not verify how much is owed their major marketer Pamodzi whom we learnt bailed out the FA on more than one occasion in South Africa.

Via Punch