Each player in the 23-man Super Eagles team B that left Nigeria for South Africa on Tuesday, stands to gain a whopping N3.8 million if they go all the way to the finals of Africa Nations Championship, a.k.a. CHAN, which kicks off tomorrow in Cape Town.
And this figure is aside the largesse the federal government might shower on the team should they win the competition, which is in its third series with Nigerian Eagles debuting only in this edition holding in South Africa from January 11th to February 1st.
The amount is made up of match bonuses and camp allowances while the competition lasts with the breakdown as $2,000 per win per player in the group stage, $2,500 per player for a win in the quarter-final and $3,000 per player for a win in the semi-final. Camp allowance is $500 per player per day for 22 days.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that reeled out the breakdown to the team before it left the country was silent on what the players will get if they reach the final; opting to unfold that package in South Africa as the team progresses; but assuring that it definitely will be higher than the semi-final win.
The total figure is $22,500 (N3,825,000) per player aside the amount to be announced later by NFF if the team gets to the final and the monetary showers the FG may dole out to the team if it wins it.
We gathered exclusively from a top official of the football house in Abuja that the Presidency made it clear it did not want any distractions for the team hencethe need for the players to know how much they stand to gain before they left.
The source said both the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi and his Director General, Gbenga Elegbeleye spelt out in details to the players how the federal government wants them to soar high in South Africa hence the monetary motivation.
They were told that in line with the present federal government stance of rewarding excellence in sports achievements, the team will be rewarded handsomely if they win the tournament and bring the trophy home.
NFF was also warned by the Minister to ensure the team is made comfortable while in South Africa and to avoid any rancour with the coaching crew as was the case in the last edition of Africa Nations Cup (AFCON), where coach Stephen Keshi was almost hounded out mid tournament.
The allowances and bonuses of the coaching crew remained unchanged; thus Coach Stephen Keshi and his staff will get the same amount that they got while in AFCON last year.