Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly condemned the Bola Tinubu administration for failing to pay the Super Eagles their agreed-upon match allowances for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament being held in Morocco [1].
The political leader’s statement followed a threat by the national football team on Wednesday to boycott training and travel plans for their crucial quarterfinal match. The team is scheduled to play Algeria on Thursday in Marrakech.
Mr. Obi linked the government’s failure to honor its commitments to broader fiscal issues.
“A country that writes off trillions in debts for government agencies and political allies, and squanders money on grandiose, self-serving projects, now struggles to pay the basic match bonuses owed to our players,” he stated.
Expressing concern over the timing of the controversy, Obi emphasized that the players should not be distracted ahead of their match.
“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match. Nigeria must learn to fulfill its obligations,” he added. He maintained that the country deserves a more reputable international image than what the current situation projects.
