The NFF opened the trips to
the banks with the $15,000 bonus for the quarter final victory over Ivory Coast
before the officials reconfirmed the bonus earmarked for the Wednesday match.
Even doubts were initially
raised over the shortfall in their budget the federation officials have said in
Durban that they are sticking to their initial plans to pay them graduated
bonuses as the competition enters the final stages.
NFF’s assistant director,
media and publicity, Demola Olajire, told The PUNCH on Tuesday that the bonus
was a graduated gesture to ensure that Nigeria win the trophy.
He said, “The NFF is
committed to the team’s welfare. It has the responsibility of making sure that
the team is motivated to be at their best. The team has been working hard to
improve on its performance and Nigerians must be happy to see the greatness in
them with the defeat of Ivory Coast which was considered impossible before
then.
“If they move to the final
by beating Mali on Wednesday, each of the players will receive $20,000. It is
not the first time the NFF is showing such gesture. We did it when they moved
to other stages of the championship and there is a provision for winning the
title as well.”
Click to read more after the cut................
The Eagles of Nigeria will
meet the Eagles of Mali in the semi-final of the tournament at the Moses
Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday, with eyes on the final. Nigeria last
won the Nations Cup in 1994 and after much struggle to convert several third
place finishes to trophy, it got to a head in the last edition as Guinea edged
out Nigeria in the qualifying stage.
Coach Stephen Keshi has had
a slow start in South Africa but after beating tournament’s favourites
Elephants of Ivory Coast in the quarterfinal match on Sunday, the Eagles rating
improved sharply, as bookmakers now tip them to lift the trophy.
The Eagles have raked in
fortunes in this championship. They earned $5,000 for each of the two draws
against Burkina Faso and Zambia and got $10,000 for beating Ethiopia to
progress to the quarterfinal stage. The qualification also earned the team
$30,000 each. If they move on to win the trophy, a sum of $25,000 awaits each
of the players in a graduated bonus.
Source: The Punch
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