Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has revealed that he is prepared to personally settle outstanding match bonuses for players and officials at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco if the Federal Government fails to do so before Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Algeria.
Ndidi made this known in comments shared by BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji on Thursday, despite assurances from the Federal Government that payments would be fast-tracked between Thursday and Friday.
“I’ve been pushing the team to stay focused and prepare for the game against Algeria. I’ve done this since our second match,” Ndidi was quoted as saying. “I have now assured the players and officials that I will personally pay the bonuses if the authorities don’t do so before Saturday.”
He stressed that unresolved financial issues should not be allowed to disrupt the team’s preparations. “I don’t want unpaid bonuses to affect our focus. I told both players and coaches that I would cover the payments myself if necessary,” he added.
Reports had earlier emerged that players and officials were considering boycotting travel to Marrakech and skipping training sessions over unpaid bonuses for their three group-stage matches and the round of 16 encounter.
Reacting to the situation, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, provided an update, saying the Federal Government had released the group-stage bonuses and that the funds had passed all required regulatory processes. She added that measures had been put in place to prevent similar delays going forward.
“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria have streamlined foreign exchange processing to ensure players are paid without further delays,” she wrote on X. “All group-stage bonuses have been fully released and cleared, and future payments will follow a faster and more predictable process.”
She also explained that a new fast-track conversion system had been introduced to allow payments in the players’ preferred foreign currency, noting that transfers to domiciliary accounts were already in progress and expected to reflect between Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, Ndidi and his teammates arrived in Marrakech on Thursday and held another training session ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Algeria. Nigeria are aiming to secure a fourth AFCON title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
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