The National Sports Commission (NSC) has broken its silence on the delayed release of financial support for the Super Eagles' upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, pointing to internal restructuring within a key government ministry as the primary cause.
Structural Changes in Finance Ministry Caused Holdup
Mallam Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, addressed the growing concerns over the timing of the funds during a statement made in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday. He firmly stated that the delay was not a deliberate act aimed at the sports sector or the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
The core issue, according to Dikko, stemmed from recent structural changes implemented within the Federal Ministry of Finance. This administrative reshuffle caused a temporary bottleneck in the release of funds, a situation that reportedly affected not just sports but several other government ministries as well.
Consolidated Funding Package, Not AFCON-Specific Grant
While the NSC boss declined to publicly disclose the exact amount of money approved by the Federal Government for the continental tournament, he provided crucial insight into the funding mechanism. He revealed that President Bola Tinubu did not approve a standalone, competition-specific budget for the 2025 AFCON.
Instead, President Tinubu authorized a consolidated bulk sum for the National Sports Commission. This single financial package is intended to cover multiple major sporting events on the nation's calendar. From this pooled fund, the NSC is expected to finance the Super Eagles' AFCON participation, the upcoming Islamic Games in Riyadh, the Youth Games in Angola, and other scheduled sporting engagements.
Dikko confirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation has already played its part by submitting a comprehensive budget for the AFCON campaign. The Commission is currently in the process of reviewing and implementing this budget to ensure all financial obligations are met promptly.
Player Bonuses Secured and Budgeted For
In a move to reassure players and fans, the NSC Chairman gave specific assurances regarding the players' entitlements. He emphasized that the matter of match bonuses has been clearly settled to avoid any distractions for the team.
The players are already fully aware of the bonus amounts they will receive for each stage of the tournament they qualify for, Dikko stated. These figures were agreed upon beforehand and have been fully captured within the overall budget submitted by the NFF. This clarification aims to prevent any repeat of past incidents where bonus disputes overshadowed the team's performance at major tournaments.
The explanation from the sports commission chief seeks to quell anxieties and provide transparency, framing the delay as an unavoidable administrative hiccup rather than a failure in planning or commitment to the national team.
