NFF admits owing staff 18-months salaries

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday said it does not derive any joy in owing allowances and salaries of players and coaches of the Super Eagles as well as administrative staff.

The football federation was reacting to a statement credited to Super Eagles’ defender, Leon Balogun on Tuesday saying the NFF was owing the players bonuses and allowances.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said in Abuja on Wednesday that the challenges and disruptions caused by the global coronavirus pandemic are still being felt by government institutions and businesses the world over, and there was no need to pretend that these are normal times.

“The NFF derives no joy in owing players and coaches their entitlements.

The same players and coaches have been well-taken-care of and provided the necessary facilities when things were normal, and as we work assiduously towards conquering the present challenges and seeing sunlight again, we expect the players, coaches and administrative staff to show the same level of understanding that they have been showing over the past 18 months.

“Of course, we are pragmatists and we realize that these things can be frustrating and some people will boil over and talk about them. It is normal.

“Last month, during the friendlies in Austria, we were able to pay some of the outstanding bonuses and allowances. We are working at a pace presently to clear what is remaining. As I speak, we owe the team bonuses and allowances from only the last two matches and they will receive the monies shortly,” he said.