Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, has criticised the continued non-payment of match allowances owed to Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, describing it as a national embarrassment that undermines the country’s image and morale.
Obi made the remarks in a post on his official Facebook page, expressing concern that Nigeria continues to generate troubling narratives even at moments when citizens need unity and positive distractions.
According to him, the Super Eagles have been a major source of national pride, lifting the spirits of Nigerians at home and abroad through their recent performances, yet are now facing avoidable distractions due to the failure to pay their agreed match bonuses.
“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity—something the Super Eagles have been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide—these same players are being denied their basic match allowances,” Obi wrote.
He questioned the country’s priorities, noting that while huge sums are written off in debts for government agencies and political allies and spent on what he described as grandiose, self-serving projects, authorities appear unable to meet basic obligations to national representatives.
He said the situation damages Nigeria’s international reputation and unfairly places additional pressure on the players ahead of a crucial quarter-final encounter, stressing that the failure to honour pre-tournament agreements is unacceptable.
“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match. Nigeria must learn to fulfil its obligations,” Obi added.
