Tinubu approves N12b for Eagles, others as Nigeria, Guinea clash

The Super Eagles in training in Abu Dhabi, UAE ahead the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire

The Federal Government, yesterday, announced the approval of N12 billion to clear the debts owed players and officials of the Super Eagles ahead of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on Saturday in Cote d’Ivoire.

The money is also expected to offset the debts owed other national teams of various categories. Current and past players of the Super Eagles, including the immediate past coach of the team, Gernot Rohr and his successor, Jose Peseiro, are owed salaries and outstanding allowances for as long as three years.

A statement on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, yesterday, stated that the Federal Government has approved the payment of N12 billon outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s national teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others.

It added: “The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coach’s salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, females, and U-20 national team.”

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles had their first test game against a local Abu Dhabi side yesterday with Francis Uzoho, Ahmed Musa, Joe Aribo and Frank Onyeka in the starting lineup.

Other players in the team were Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem, Sadiq Umar, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Ola Aina. The friendly game, according to camp sources, was to try some of the players that have not featured regularly for the team alongside some of the A stars.

The Super Eagles will play a more difficult opponent today in the Syli Nationale of Guinea to test the team’s readiness for the opening game against Equatorial Guinea at Cote