Following Nigeria’s march into the semi finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Super Eagles Legend Jay-Jay Okocha has once again highlighted the long standing administrative issues surrounding the national team, with unpaid bonuses threatening to derail the Super Eagles campaign before their quarter final victory over Algeria.
The situation came to a head ahead of the 2-0 win in Marrakech, when players boycotted training sessions after failing to receive promised match bonuses from victories against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique. The standoff cast uncertainty over Nigeria’s preparations and raised concerns about focus and morale at a critical stage of the tournament.
The crisis was defused through the intervention of captain Wilfred Ndidi, who took personal responsibility by pledging to cover the outstanding bonuses from his own funds if the authorities failed to act. His decisive move restored calm within the camp and allowed the team to refocus ahead of the Algeria clash.
Former Super Eagles captain Jay Jay Okocha later addressed the issue, offering a blunt assessment of the situation during an appearance on the Clutch9 podcast. He criticized football administrators across the continent and expressed sympathy with the players’ stance, saying “The people running the affairs of football in Africa have no idea that looking after players is vital to success.
“It is sad that players are yet to receive match bonuses after performing well for their country.
“Players know that once they leave, they might not get that money back, and that’s why they try to get what they are entitled to before they go into the next round.
“People don’t understand that you only get match bonuses when you win, and that is your livelihood, what you deserve.”
Jay Jay Okocha also reflected on his own experiences with the national team, noting that similar problems existed during his playing days but were less visible due to the absence of social media.
Despite the off field uncertainty and frustration, the Super Eagles delivered a disciplined and assured performance against Algeria, securing a 2-0 win to book their place in the semi finals. With the immediate crisis managed, Nigeria now prepare for a high profile clash against hosts Morocco as they continue their quest for AFCON glory.
