TheCable

Members of the Dream Team VI, the Nigerian Under-23 team, have been paid the first 11 days of their camp allowances.

The team, coaching crew as well as the back room staff all were paid the allowances on Tuesday by the ministry.

Solomon Dalung, the minister of youth and sports disclosed this after meeting with the team following their 1-0 victory over Sweden on Monday.

The players are entitled to $150 daily camp allowance, which amounted to $1, 650 for the 11 days allowances.

Dalung said the upfront payment was to ensure that the players are focused and well-motivated ahead of the knockout stage of the competition.

He promised that all athletes would be paid all entitlements before the end of the games.

“All your camp allowances have been budgeted for,” he said.

“There will be no storytelling during this games. You will get all your allowances and entitlements as we don’t want any distractions.
“We want you to remain focused.

“You have established that you’re great men and determined to conquer, despite all odds. There can’t be any other sacrifice more than this.”

Nneka Anibeze, the media aide to Dalung, said the minister would be in Sao Paolo to cheer the Dream Team on Wednesday against Columbia at the Arena Corinthians for their last Group B match.

The game comes up on Wednesday at 11pm Nigerian time.