KEY POINTS
- Super Eagles match allowances remain unpaid.
- Peter Obi says the situation hurts morale and image.
- He urges Nigeria to honour agreed obligations.
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised the continued non-payment of match allowances owed to Nigeria’s national football team, warning that the issue undermines morale and damages the country’s international standing.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Obi said the situation was particularly troubling given the role the Super Eagles have played in lifting national spirits through recent performances. He described the failure to honour agreed bonuses as an avoidable distraction at a time when Nigerians are seeking moments of unity and relief.
Obi said the players have brought pride and positive attention to the nation, yet authorities have responded with administrative lapses that reflect misplaced national priorities.
Super Eagles match allowances spark criticism
“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity, something the Super Eagles have been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide, these same players are being denied their basic match allowances,” Obi wrote.
He questioned why authorities leave obligations to national representatives unpaid while they write off large debts for government agencies and politically connected entities. Obi also criticised spending on what he described as grandiose and self-serving projects, arguing that such choices contrast sharply with the inability to pay agreed bonuses.
“A country that writes off trillions in debts and squanders money on grandiose projects now struggles to pay basic match bonuses owed to our players,” he said.
Obi stressed that match allowances are not discretionary rewards but contractual commitments that should be settled promptly, particularly during major competitions.
Super Eagles match allowances and national image
Obi warned that the issue goes beyond football finances, saying it reflects on Nigeria’s credibility and governance standards. He said subjecting players to uncertainty over entitlements places unnecessary pressure on them, especially ahead of key fixtures.
“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match,” Obi said, adding that repeated failures to meet basic obligations erode confidence at home and abroad.
He urged officials to resolve the issue quickly and prevent a repeat, saying athletes who represent the country deserve support, not distractions caused by government failures.
Obi ended by linking the event to his bigger call for change in the system. He repeated his long-held belief that greater governance and accountability are possible. “A New Nigeria is possible,” he said.
