Things are starting off a controversial note for Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in 2020, as The Glasshouse is abuzz with fresh allegations over financial matters, and a possible face off looming with the ministry of sports.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that this is sequel to a declaration by top shots of the football governing body that the money they received from the sports ministry fell short of what they needed to prosecute all their activities in the past year.
Feelers from The Glasshouse indicate that, while the federal government actually approved one billion Naira to cover the Super Eagles’ outing at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as for the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup, only 700 million Naira was released to the NFF.
Based on worries reeling through the corridors of the NFF, the body’s president, Amaju Pinnick is said to have expressed early worries that the Eagles’ campaign in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers might be in jeopardy, as he fears the players could protest over unpaid bonuses.
In a quick move to avert such an insalubrious development from happening, though, Pinnick is said to have sent a formal letter of explanation to the sports minister, Sunday Akinlabi Dare to intimate him with constraints facing the NFF and to seek full payment of the approved money.
While also pointing out that the NFF got only N1.5bn from the federal government’s approved N3.2bn for the Eagles’ outing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Pinnick warned that the players and those in the other national teams may shun qualifying campaigns over unpaid entitlements.
A report by scorenigeria added: “He (Pinnick) also said the NFF are heavily indebted to hotels and travel agents because of the non-release of these monies. However, the NFF boss was silent of the various incomes the federation received in the outgoing year.
“It included over 3 billion Naira from sponsorships, $2 million from CAF for the Eagles finishing third at the AFCON as well as $1 million from FIFA for the Super Falcons advancing to the Round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup in France.”
