NFF, Super Eagles Sign Agreement Ahead of Russia 2018

NFF, Super Eagles Sign Agreement Ahead of Russia 2018

In a bid to prevent all manner of rancour and distractions around Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the Super Eagles signed a historic and binding agreement in the Russian city of Krasnodar on Tuesday.

The landmark deal was spearheaded by NFF President Amaju Pinnick, along with his his Vice Presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, while the Eagles were represented by head coach Gernot Rohr, his assistant Salisu Yusuf, Team Administrator Enebi Achor, skipper Mikel John Obi and some senior players.

According to Pinnick, the NFF was determined to put all the crises and confrontations that had bedevilled African teams’ participation at the World Cup in the past behind it.

Speaking after the deal was reached, NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman of Strategic Committee Shehu, Dikko said:

“We have done it; we have concluded negotiations and come to agreement with the team as regards bonuses, allowances and share of income from FIFA for the 2018 World Cup. Every detail has been agreed on match bonus for each match and each round up to the Final as well as share of income from FIFA money for each round until the stage we are able to get to at the finals.

“We also agreed on preparation, such as how much players will be paid for the friendly matches, including how and when the monies would be paid. We even delved into how the NFF would apply the funds due to it from FIFA after paying the players their share.”

Pinnick and Sanusi signed for the NFF while Gernot Rohr and Salisu Yusuf signed for the technical crew and Captain Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa signed for the players.

Mikel Obi beamed with satisfaction after the deal was signed.

“We are very happy and excited with this development. This is the first time since I started playing for the senior team that I would see everything regarding preparation and bonuses and allowances put down in black and white and a binding agreement executed. It is reassuring that we now have a Federation leadership so committed to making everything work that they arranged this meeting and allowed the players to contribute and then set out to sign the agreement,” he said.

It would be recalled that at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, the Super Eagles missed a training session in protest over bonuses and allowances and share of the income from FIFA, causing embarrassment as government was forced to dispatch then Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo to Brazil with millions of dollars in cash.

NFF chief, Pinnick added that Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, gave his blessings to the deal, calling on the players to do the country proud at the Mundial.