Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has captured global attention after pledging to personally cover his teammates’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bonuses to prevent a looming boycott.
The midfielder, currently playing for Beşiktaş in Turkey, made the extraordinary offer as Nigeria prepared for their crucial AFCON 2025 quarterfinal clash against Algeria on Sunday.
Bonus Dispute Clouds Super Eagles Camp
Reports indicate that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to settle camp allowances and winning bonuses owed to both players and staff. Despite the financial uncertainty, the Super Eagles have impressed on the pitch, securing four consecutive victories against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Mozambique.
With tensions rising and a protest on the horizon, Ndidi stepped in to calm the situation.
“I’ve been pushing the team to train and play since the second game,” Ndidi said. “I’ve now made a commitment to the staff and players that I’ll personally pay the bonuses if the authorities fail to do so before Saturday.”
Nigeria’s AFCON Legacy
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s football powerhouses, having lifted the AFCON trophy three times (1980, 1994, 2013). The Super Eagles have also finished as runners-up five times and hold the record for the most third-place finishes in the tournament’s history.