The federal government has announced that all group-stage bonuses due to players of the Super Eagles at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations have been released and are expected to reflect in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours.

The disclosure was made by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, in response to reports suggesting that the national team was considering boycotting training sessions and could refuse to travel to Marrakesh for their quarter-final encounter against Algeria.

In a post on her official X handle, Uzoka-Anite provided an update on the administrative steps taken to resolve concerns surrounding the payment of match bonuses to the Super Eagles, stating that the issue had been addressed through coordinated action by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have successfully streamlined to ensure faster, more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice,” the minister said.

She explained that all bonuses earned during the group stage of the tournament had already been processed through the required regulatory procedures. “All group-stage bonuses were fully released and have now cleared the necessary regulatory stages,” she said.

Uzoka-Anite added that the government had introduced a fast-track process to meet the players’ preferences regarding currency denomination. “We have implemented a fast-track conversion process to move funds into foreign currency, honouring the players’ preferences,” she stated.

According to the minister, the final stage of the payment process is already underway. “The final transfers to domiciliary accounts are currently in flight. Players can expect these funds to reflect starting today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday),” she said.

She noted that the government’s priority remains the welfare and morale of the national team as they progress into the knockout phase of the tournament. “Our focus remains entirely on supporting the team’s welfare so they can maintain their incredible momentum in the knockout rounds,” Uzoka-Anite said.

She added that the administration is committed to ensuring that off-field issues do not distract the players from their performance on the pitch. “We move forward with one goal: Bringing the trophy home!” she said.

The update is expected to calm concerns surrounding the team’s preparations ahead of the quarter-final fixture, as the Super Eagles continue their campaign at the AFCON 2025 tournament. (THE NATION)

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