Encomium
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are said to be locked in battle with the nation’s football authority over non-payment of part of the $8 million (N1.38 billion) World Cup appearance fee and second round qualification bonus.
The players got $25,000 each as bonuses for their matches against lran which ended in a draw, that of Bosnia which Nigeria won by a lone goal and against Argentina which ended in a defeat.
The draw against Iran earned each player $10,000. They also pocketed $10,000 as winning bonus against Bosnia while the defeat by Argentina fetched each player $5,000. That means each player that represents Nigeria at the World Cup in Brazil has gotten N3.73 million.
Now, the players are demanding their share of the $8 million (N1.3 billion) FIFA largesse for all participating teams at the World Cup. The players are asking for 25 percent of the money which is $2 million, a development which made the players boycott training on Thursday, June 26, 2014.
The team captain, Joseph Yobo, however, revealed that the meeting which the players had with the football authority as regards resolving the bonus row which ended late in the night made the team shun training till the following day.
The latest agreement between the players and the football association has it that each player is entitled to $10,000 winning bonus, for first round games, $12,500, for second round, $20,000 for semi final and $25,000 each for the players if the team wins the trophy.
Already the Nigeria Football Federation has collected a total of N2.7 billion from FIFA and the Presidency which is why the boys want a share before they are knocked out of the tournament and nobody would know where the money disappeared to.
Nigerian soccer fans are not silent about this infighting over bonus. Football fans who went on the social media appealed to the team and football authority not to allow the rift cause national disgrace.
“We shouldn’t allow this smear the joys of over 170 million Nigerians, because football is what is giving many Nigerians joy irrespective of ethnicity, gender or language.”
Some even believe this is a bad development for Nigerian team at this World Cup. The same bonus row tore the Ghanaian team and their FA apart. This, in part, was blamed for the team’s ouster at the World Cup.
KESHI PLAYS DOWN RIFT WITH VICTOR MOSES
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has played down a reported rift between him and Victor Moses. The former Nigerian player insisted he dropped the Chelsea player in the match against Bosnia and Argentina because of injury scare.
“I can’t fight him, he (Moses) is like my son. He didn’t play in our last two matches because of injury and he will be fit soon.”
A report which emanated during the week alleged that the coach and Victor Moses, who is currently on loan at Liverpool are not in good terms. The report indicated that the rift started when the winger was not named in the line-up against Bosnia which was openly criticized. This continued when he was omitted from the list that squared up against Argentina.
The player refused to sit on the bench and decided to watch the match from the podium.
SUAREZ EJECTED FROM TEAM’S HOTEL
Uruguay player, Luiz Suarez, who perpetrated the most shameful act at the World Cup has been thrown out of Brazil.
The Liverpool striker bit Italy’s Giorgio Chellini on the shoulder during his country’s World Cup victory on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.
Because of the disgrace, he was handed four months ban which will see him miss 13 games for his club, Liverpool next season as well as nine competitive games for his county, Uruguay. The player is also prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium during the ban and is ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 francs.
Real Madrid of Spain, who are planning to sign the player from Liverpool of England for £80 million have also shelved their plan because of this shameful act. While gambling website, 888 Poker has also cancelled their ambassadorial contract with him.
This is the third time the player would be biting a fellow player on the field of play. He did it while playing for Ajax in Holland. He was given 10 match ban but he didn’t wait to serve the ban as he hurriedly signed for Liverpool of England. He also did the same in England. He bit Chelsea player, Brasuila Ivanovic during a match between Chelsea and Liverpool. He was handed 10 match ban which he served.
Suarez’s bite, however, translates to fortune for a Swedish better, Jonathan Braeck bet with £7 that the player would bite and the 23 year old teacher is now £1,225 richer by the act.
AHMED MUSA’S VALUE INCREASES
Super Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa’s stock rose to N2.7 billion in the transfer market after he scored a brace against Argentina at the on-going World Cup in Brazil.
Whichever club that wants to sign the 21 year old from his current club, CSKA Moscow, Russia will have to cough out £10 million (N2.7 billion).
ENYEAMA MARKS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IN BRAZIL
Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, marked his wedding anniversary in Brazil where he is presently sweating it out for Nigeria. The Lille Metropole of France shot-stopper posed with his wife and his three children for public viewing on Instagram.
WORLD CUP QUICK FACTS
- Joseph Yobo finally made his 100th cap for the Super Eagles with his match against Argentina. He is the first Nigerian player to reach the milestone.
- Out of the five teams that represented Africa, only Nigeria and Algeria made it to the second round.
- Australia is the first country to arrive Brazil for the World Cup. They were also the first to leave after they were eliminated at the group stage.
- Ghanaian striker, Asamoah Gyan became the African highest goal scorer at the World Cup with six goals. However, his country, Ghana did not make it beyond the group stage.
- Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama was voted Best African Player at the group stage. The 31 year old garnered 9.59 points.
- Columbia’s goalkeeper, Faryd Mondragou became the oldest player at the World Cup at 43. He broke the record previously held by Cameroonian, Roger Milla in 1994.
-FOLUSO SAMUEL
