Super Eagles Struggle Beyond The Pitch: Kenneth Omeruo Reveals Delayed AFCON Payments

Super Eagles Struggle Beyond The Pitch: Kenneth Omeruo Reveals Delayed AFCON Payments

Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has opened up about the challenges facing the national team off the pitch, stating that their bonuses and allowances for the 2023 AFCON are not being paid on time…..READ MORE

Omeruo, a key figure in the Super Eagles and one of the team captains, acknowledged the delay in receiving their entitlements but emphasized that he and his teammates remain unfazed by the unpaid dues. The Kasimpasa defender also defended team captain Ahmed Musa, dismissing reports of dissatisfaction among players regarding Musa’s leadership.

In an interview with ESPN, Omeruo labeled the reports as a “joke,” stating, “Musa showed us at lunch, and we laughed about it. We are focused on our game, believing that our money will be paid. This squad is not the one to fight over money; otherwise, you would have heard that we refused to go to training even before the tournament.”

Contrary to earlier reports of funds being approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to settle the players, Omeruo’s revelation indicates ongoing challenges with payments. This disclosure comes despite a statement from the Nigerian Football Federation General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, praising the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the prompt processing of payments.

Sanusi had said, “We have not experienced any delays or complications of processes at the CBN this time, and we give kudos to them for their diligence and great sense of duty.”

Despite the off-field turmoil, the Super Eagles have managed to advance to the semi-finals of the 2023 AFCON, defeating Angola in the quarter-finals. The team’s resilience will be tested as they face either South Africa or Cape Verde in the semi-finals on February 7