The Nigeria Football Federation has come out to explain in detail all financial matters around the country’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi stated clearly that all postulations and assumptions by some uninformed football analysts were terribly wide off the mark.
“We have been reading and listening to a lot of ‘expert views and analyses’ on the financial details of Nigeria’s participation in next year’s FIFA World Cup finals and most of these conclusions carry bold marks of ignorance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA will pay each participating member association the sum of $1.5million (about N240million) as preparation money, and this is verifiable from all quarters, including FIFA headquarters.
“The amount guaranteed for each team’s participation in the championship is the sum of $8million, and no team will get this exact sum because the money will be subject to with-holding tax, deductions on accommodation and all extras, and some other deductions.
More importantly, this money will not be paid until after the World Cup finals, and when what is left is eventually paid, certain percentage of it goes to the players.”
Sanusi, a doctorate degree holder in sports administration and who is also president of the Nigeria Association of Colleges of Education Games, lambasted those who had gone on air and to the press to talk about the NFF not needing any money to prepare the Super Eagles for participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
“A number of these commentators are simply misleading the public. It is unfortunate that those who should know are the ones who have been at the forefront of the negative campaign. To prepare the Super Eagles adequately for a big impact at the World Cup will gulp a lot of money, in camping programmes, friendly matches and general logistics.
“The NFF has nothing to hide. All monies received from our participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be duly accounted for.”
Sanusi also described as laughable insinuations in some quarters that the present NFF administration has much to prove.
“The present NFF administration headed by Aminu Maigari has achieved much more than any before it, ever since the NFF came into being as NFA, and this is a fact. Records don’t lie. In three-and-half years, the administration has won 10 trophies, qualified Nigeria for the FIFA World Cup finals with ease and fostered better relationships with other agencies and Nigeria Missions abroad, as well as breaking new grounds in human capacity development and empowerment programmes.
“Those challenging the present NFF should first challenge themselves to make impact in their own areas of endeavour.
