Embittered president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has berated the Super Eagles players for rejecting a lash in their match bonus at a time the federation is battling to keep afloat over its lean resources.

The players refused the slash of their winning bonus from $10,000 to $5,000 and bonus foa draw from $5,000 to $2,500 after they forced the Brave Warriors of Namibia to a 1-1 draw last Wednesday in Windhoek.

The players argued that they were paid $10,000 for every win before the 2013 Afcon and wondered why the amount would be reduced even with their latest accolade of African champions.

In explaining why the players should understand the plight of the NFF, Maigari urged them to imitate their fellow players from other countries who take it upon themselves to bail out their home federations in times of financial crises.

In an interveiw with supersport.com, the NFF president said, “We want these players to think about their fellow Africans like George Weah and Samuel Eto’o Fils who have severally used their finances and assisted their federations when cash was tight,” adding that, “It is an honour to play for the national team.”

Still wondering why the players should reject their slashed bonus and refused to embark on the trip to Brazil, Maigari argued that, “In Africa, no national federation pay as well as we do and the least we expect from the players is appreciation of what we do for them. Before each game, we ensure their return tickets are taken care of and they all travel via business class.”

Meanwhile the s triking Super Eagles players reportedly agreed to travel to Brazil for the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup after calling off their strike following an intervention by the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi

The minister’s special assistant Julius Ogunro, confirmed that the dispute has been settled after his boss improved on the bonus of the players.