TheCable

FIFA is delaying the release of $9m to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as its prize-money for the 2014 World Cup because of the crisis in the Glass House.

Musa Amadu, secretary general of NFF, has confirmed that Nigeria are yet to receive the money they earned in Brazil because of the leadership crisis that has bedeviled the country.

He debunked reports in some quarters that the federation had already collected its share of the FIFA largess.

“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 on Tuesday.

“I even remember last week, the board met and decided that at the highest level, they will consult and tell people in government that this money is already in our account. So that when the time is right, we will write and if there’s an account directly to the NSC, we will write and send it there.”

Amadu also said tNFF would return the sum of $3.6m from the $9m to the Nigerian government, being the amount given the NFF for preparations for the World Cup.

“Government gave $3.6m to the team and we have a letter from the National Sports Commission (NSC) that says we are obliged to return that money and we will return that money.”

Nigeria witnessed several changes in the administration of the game since the Super Eagles were ousted from the World Cup, resulting in FIFA’s reluctance to release the prize-money earned by the team for getting into the second round of the World Cup.