The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the alleged non-payment of match allowances to Nigeria’s national football team, describing it as an embarrassment to the country.
Obi expressed the concern in a post on X on Tuesday while reacting to reports that players of the Super Eagles were owed bonuses during an ongoing tournament.
“When will this embarrassment end? Can we get through a day without troubling news in this country?” Obi queried.
The former Anambra governor said it was ironic that the players, who have lifted national morale with their performances, were being denied basic entitlements.
“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity — something the national football team, the Super Eagles, has been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide — these same players are being denied their basic match allowances,” he said.
Obi faulted what he described as the government’s spending priorities, adding that the situation damages Nigeria’s international image.
“A country that writes off trillions in debts for government agencies and political allies, and squanders money on grandiose, self-serving projects, now struggles to pay the basic match bonuses owed to our players.
“Nigeria deserves a better international image than this ongoing failure to honour previously agreed-upon allowances before the tournament,” Obi said.
Obi warned that the issue could distract the team ahead of a crucial fixture, urging the authorities to meet their obligations to the players.
“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match. Nigeria must learn to fulfil its obligations,” Obi added.