Eagles Threaten To Boycott Iran Game Over Allowances
Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo has waded into the brewing crisis between the Super Eagles and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the world football governing body’s $8 million allocation to the federation.
The players, it was reported protested to the NFF chairman Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in the United States (US) demanding their own share of the money and threatened that should the federation refuse to pay them the money they were not going to play in the opening match of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
NFF, it was gathered claimed that they have only received $1 million from FIFA out of the $8 million with which they have been organising friendlies and pre-world cup preparations.
It was also gathered that in addition to the FIFA $1 million, the Federal Government has made available to the NFF N850 million out of the N1.4 billion total budget for the tournament.
Meanwhile at a meeting held between Dr. Danagogo and Alhaji Maigari, at the Maksoud Plaza Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Monday evening, the minister charged the NNF boss to negotiate with the team to be able to reach an agreement so that the players’ morale would be boosted during the tournament.
The minister was of the view that the welfare of the team should be paramount during the tournament adding that “ if we do not treat them well and make them happy, they may just go into the tournament and perform badly and ensure that we pack our bags and return.