Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has taken a dramatic personal stand amid a payment dispute threatening Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations campaign, vowing to pay his teammates' outstanding bonuses from his own pocket.
Eagles' Protest Over Unpaid AFCON Bonuses
The three-time African champions found themselves in a tense standoff after their Round of 16 victory. Following a 4-0 win over Mozambique in Fes, the players refused to travel to Marrakesh for their upcoming quarter-final match. This protest was a direct response to the non-payment of their winning bonuses for the group stage matches of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
According to reports from ESPN and journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, the team only resumed preparations after receiving assurances from the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The crucial last-eight clash against Algeria is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026.
Ndidi's Bold Personal Commitment
In a move that has captivated the football world, captain Wilfred Ndidi intervened to prevent the financial saga from derailing the team's focus. In a viral post on social media platform X, the former Leicester City midfielder revealed his extraordinary promise.
"I've been pushing the team to train and play the game vs Algeria. I've been doing this since the second game," Ndidi stated. "I've now made a commitment to the staff & players that I'll personally pay the bonuses if the authority fail to before Saturday."
He emphasized that his primary concern was the team's performance, adding, "I don't want this unpaid bonuses to affect our preparations. I told players & coaching staff that I'd personally make the payments if they don't get it."
Federal Government's Response and Fan Reaction
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has provided an update on the situation. Through the office of the Minister of Finance, it stated that the process to pay the bonuses had been fast-tracked. In a tweet, the government claimed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had streamlined foreign exchange processing to convert the funds.
The statement indicated that all group-stage bonuses had been released and cleared regulatory stages, with final transfers to domiciliary accounts expected to reflect starting Thursday, January 8, 2026. The government assured it was honoring the players' preference for foreign currency payments.
The news sparked intense reactions from Nigerian fans online:
- Some praised Ndidi's leadership, comparing him to former captain Mikel Obi.
- Others criticized the players for holding the nation "at ransom" over payments.
- Many expressed hope that the resolution would allow the team to focus fully on the challenging match against Algeria.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of similar issues in Nigerian football. NFF president Ibrahim Gusau recently confirmed that the victorious Super Falcons were also owed "little outstanding" after winning the 2025 WAFCON, though he downplayed the media portrayal of the debt.
All eyes are now on Marrakesh to see if the Super Eagles, with the bonus issue hopefully resolved, can channel their energy into securing a semi-final berth at the continental tournament.
