TheCable

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been paid the $9 million World Cup bonus by FIFA.

Every country that appeared in Brazil 2014 World Cup was entitled to the sum of $8 million and Nigeria was meant to receive an extra one million for reaching the second round stage.

But according to NFF secretary-general, Musa Amadu, the world soccer body held on to Nigeria’s bonus, attributing the delay in remitting the money to the presidential crisis that rocked the football house.

FIFA and President Goodluck Jonathan’s interference have seemingly quelled the crisis and the bonus has now been disbursed, a source close to the Glass House disclosed to TheCable.

“FIFA has paid the World Cup bonus to Nigeria,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

“But I wonder why the NFF are silent about it. They held an emergency meeting immediately Amaju Pinnick came back from the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and feelers from the meeting point to a cover-up.

“They are planning to share the money while they keep saying FIFA are yet to pay it, believing that after a while, everybody will forget about it.”

The source said the NFF could get away with it since the players have been “settled” during the World Cup.

The Super Eagles players – like their Ghanaian counterpart – got their bonus before the game against France after threatening to down-tools.

Tammy Danagogo, the sports minister, had to leave Brazil for Abuja to get money to appease the players. The money was a loan to the NFF, which they agreed to pay back once the largess from FIFA arrived.

Our source has now asked for the receipt the NFF issued the sports ministry showing “the full and final payment of the loan” advanced them.

“They are not ready to pay anything back to the government. If they have paid, let the ministry show us the receipt they got from NFF.”

Before now, the secretary-general of the NFF, played the “crisis card”.

“We have this money with FIFA and it is safe there; there’s nothing wrong with the money; the money is safe there. But because of all these problems and things happening, it is not even wise to access it now,” Amadu disclosed in a radio interview.

He now “plays a taciturn card”.

“FIFA has credited NFF account with them,” Amadu said when TheCable contacted him.

He spoke in a noncommittal manner when pressed to comment if the federation now has access to the funds.

“Please, please I have nothing to say about that.”

A call was put across to FIFA media centre (009410432227777) for clarification and one Mr. Alos said a mail should instead be sent to [email protected] for any enquiry.

His response is still being awaited.