Eagles poise for war over FIFA largesse

By Tony Ubani, in South Africa
As Nigerians are still wondering what went wrong with their national team in South Africa, members of the team who have since returned to the country are up in arms, asking for 25 percent share of the country’s participation grant from FIFA.

Eagles

Sports Vanguard gathered that the players who were told of a letter purportedly written by the Sports Minister to FIFA asking the world football governing body to withhold the USD 8million due for Nigeria as World Cup participation grant are bent on getting what they believe was their due as agreed with the NFA before the tournament.

A source close to the players told Sports Vanguard that “members of the squad are threatening fire and brimstone and angling for a fight with the football house should it renege on their pre-tournament agreement.”

We further gathered that the players who were still disappointed with their performance in South Africa believe that the concession of 25 percent to them by the NFA was not tied to the outcome of their campaign at the World Cup.

Before their departure from South Africa, one of the players who craved anonymity, told Sports Vanguard in South Africa that “It was an agreement which we believe the NFA would abide by. It is our entitlement. We are players and should not be caught in any sort of power play. We deserve our pay.”

Sports Vanguard gathered that the agitation by the players was sparked off by the news that the minister had written to FIFA to withhold Nigeria’s World Cup participation grant.