President Buhari Approves Super Eagles’ AFCON Budget
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By Amaechi Agbo
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the budget the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF submitted to him for the national team’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON campaign in Egypt, Bestchoicesports com.ng can report
Mr Buhari approved the money following complaints and submission made by the NFF to the presidency for lack of fund to prosecute the tournament.
There were fears last week that the squad could take drastic measures to get assurances that their bonuses and entitlements would be paid after it emerged that funds have not been made available by the NFF.
The NFF and immediate past minister of Youth and sports, Solomon Dalung were engaged in war of words over who takes responsibility for the failure of the Office of National Budget and Planning to capture the AFCON fund in the recently assented 2019 fiscal budget.
While the former minister exonerated the ministry from the embarrassment and challenged the fedeeation to accept its ineptitude, the football house insisted that it had done its part in the budgetory process and blamed the ministry for not acting accordingly.
Just this Sunday, Nigeria’s senior female national football team, the Super Falcons protested in France following the NFF’s failure to pay them their match entitlements in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Nigeria crashed out of the tournament at the Round of 16 after they lost 3-0 to two-time champions, Germany.
The Super Eagles may not have any cause to fight over money like the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Warriors of Zimbabwe have done at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which started last Friday in Egypt.
Cameroon’s squad arrived in Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations late on Saturday after delaying their departure over a pay dispute, risking possible sanction from CAF while players of Zimbabwe had to be prevailed upon to honour the opening game against Egypt after they boycotted training on Thursday.
However, it was gathered from a source at the Presidency that President Buhari has acted promptly on the request made by the NFF for funds by directing the Finance Ministry to source for the money and get back to him.
The Super Eagles opened their campaign at the AFCON in Egypt with a 1-0 win over debutants, Burundi.