Izuchukwu OkosiPlayers of the Super Eagles may soon be paid their outstanding match bonuses owed them after four consecutive international games following the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to pay their head coach, Jose Peseiro three months’ emoluments from his backlog of salaries.
The Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday paid Peseiro the sum of $210,000 (about N156,400,000), being outstanding arrears of three of the 10 months’ salaries including bonuses owed him.
Head coaches of other national teams like the Super Falcons, U-23 Eagles, Flying Eagles, Falconets, Golden Eaglets and the Flamingos were also paid between five and seven months’ salaries albeit the figures were not made public as at press time.
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NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau disclosed this to sports journalists on Thursday and further stated the challenges facing the Football ruling body in Nigeria.
“When I assumed office as President of the NFF, I demanded to see Peseiro’s contract and the approval by the Federal Government agreeing to pay the coach’s salary. But to my utter dismay, there was no approval.
“I was made to understand that the approval was verbal.
“This also surprised the Sports Minister who asked us to write to get the approval, this we did since last year.
“We are still waiting for the approval and subsequent payment of the salary of the Super Eagles coach.
On bonuses and allowances owed to the various national teams, especially the Super Eagles, the NFF Boss said all that will be sorted out soon, adding that he has paid some allowances.
“The bills owed by the NFF are huge and we are working hard to offset them soon,” Gusau said reassuringly.
There had been rumours making the rounds prior to Thursday’s payment that players of the Super Eagles may opt to pull out of the last two 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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