(CNN) — As it stands, Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign may be over before it even begins.
With the country in the midst of a crippling recession triggered by weak oil prices, funding for its men’s national football team has suffered to the point that it risks World Cup disqualification.
Although the Super Eagles — who are led by Chelsea star John Obi Mikel — have had their bonuses suspended for six months, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) now says it is so broke that it cannot afford to fly its players to Zambia for next month’s third-round qualifier.
Although many of its squad earn lucrative salaries playing for clubs in Europe, the NFF is courting a sponsor to raise $270,000 in order to charter a plane to Ndola, Zambia for the match on October 9, according to Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper.
“As we speak, we don’t have any kobo (a denomination of Nigeria’s naira currency) in our purse,” an unnamed member of the NFF told the newspaper, adding that they were appealing to regional telco giant Globacom for aid.
“The charges for the Airline alone is $200,000 for a 140-seater plane, and it will be on ground with the team for two days,” the spokesman added. “We need between $6,000 and $10,000 for flight ticket(s) to bring in the players (from Europe).”
The NFF member also noted that players will be due a further $95, 0000 each in bonuses, and said the only way forward is to receive stronger backing from the Nigerian government.
“The federal government still has to play its part, because this is the beginning of our campaign for the 2018 World Cup qualifying ticket. If we must get it right, every hand must be on deck,” he told The Guardian.
The Nigerian Statehouse did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on the matter.
Nigeria has been one of the most successful African countries when it comes to the World Cup, reaching the round of 16 in three out of its five appearances — most recently in 2014.
The Super Eagles have had even greater success at the Olympics, winning a gold medal at Atlanta in 1996, a silver at the 2008 Beijing Games, and a recent bronze medal at Rio 2016.
Reaching the bronze medal match in Rio de Janeiro prompted one Super Eagles superfan to donate $390,000 as charitable aid.
Learning of the team’s financial hardship, Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu flew in from Tokyo for Nigeria’s bronze medal match against Honduras, which it won 3-2.
“I was so happy and cried for their winning. Japanese are sentimental,” Takasu told CNN in August.
Takasu personally delivered the checks to Nigeria’s captain, Mikel and coach Samson Siasia after being impressed by the team’s resilience when they emerged victorious in the Olympic football group stage despite nearly missing the tournament.
The team were stranded at their Atlanta training base and arrived just seven hours before their opening match against Japan, which they won 5-4, due to a logistical mix up — the airline hired to charter the team to Brazil, it turned out, had not been paid on time.
How this is even possible goes to show our deepening problems as a continent…mismanagement and corruption in Africa is such a cancer, this should not be an issue going by Nigerians resources!!
Soccer administrators in Africa need to be more enterprising. How can an Olympic medalist team fail to attract any corporate support? Lack of accountability and transpareny on the FA’s part could some of the reasons.
LIES, WE WILL DUNUNA THEM WEN THEY COME
Nigeria is one of the most corrupt nation in the world.There FA can’t stand without the Government and corporate joining together.
These are the benefits of corruption. Nigeria as rich of a country as they are…compared to a lot of countries in Africa, should be ashamed that this is even happening, but again we are talking about Nigeria here where there is no shame at all from the majority of people there, save for the few good ones. Let their stars playing in Europe chip in money, it’s because of Nigeria after all, that these guys are playing in Europe in the first place. If Country means anything to them at al, then these rich players should come home and play with their own money, they are rich after all. Of course, its easily said than done with this self-centered world we living in nowadays.
With all those years of high oil prices, you’d think they would have diversified their economy by now.
Apparently not. The other day I read an article on how Nigeria was angry at Spain for having a tomato food fight. Nigeria was throwing a feet because they claimed Spain needed to give those tomatoes to Nigeria instead of wasting it. I get the wasting part when other countries are in need of the commodity, but what Spain or other Countries do with their hard earned harvests is there own business, we Africans have a bad sense of entitlement and its sad. Nigeria with their Oil should be financing their ag industry as well to produce a lot of farm produce, after all they have excellent weather climates in Nigeria, but no everyone thinks 419.
forget nigeria is coming, zambia shud jst prepare
i can understand this its too expensive to board a plane to and fro and back to their respective clubs too much money and in this campaign you need players that are very experienced (abroad) hope Nigeria survives coz am looking forward to October 9th, too bad you are eagles that cannot fly, good luck Nigeria.
anyway all the same. either there is money to go( to and fro) or not, we are coming to Ndola your backyard to kill you the chipolopolo, come to Nigeria for a final burial, then we Nigerian now celebration of late chipolopolo, let just give you guys a correct scores for that coming day result. ( 0_2) zambu for for down,the eagles must fly higher
Dream on kid. You are allowed to dream.
I like a comment from my brother Chisuta,it is a Mind game nigeria is comming with a ful force,they are very serious wen it cums to world cup quaifier,olimpics be careful this matters are serious with Chopolopolo go boys prepare hard!!!
Whatever happens, I hope Nigeria wins. all these things might be lies anyway as Nigerian FA said it isn’t true. we will get it right this time. I hate the way my fellow other Nigerian here comments.. by the name Nija. he doesn’t sound constructive. By the way, am Spacofadan and am soccer âš½ lover. Greetings from Nigeria
Thank you brother.
gracias
If Zambia falls into this Nigerian trap I will stop supporting Chipolopolo.
Nigerians they cant fly their so called stars,where is naija boy?
Here is how the neutrals would tag this duel in the following years
2008 – Can the Chipolopolo upset the mighty Eagles
2010- (1/8 stage) Brave chipolopolo miss on penalties to Eagles for a Semis
2012- The Might Chipolopolo to square of with the High Flying Green Super Eagles.
2013- (Group stages) Eagles clearly underdogs to holders Zambia
2014/15- Eagles to face it out with bullets
2016- (due to a dip in team form) Watch live 9th October from Ndola Rubber Mafro Bullets vs the Ever Green Super Vultures
LOLZ
cam that day you kill yoself ho
We have some birds to kill…Bola yabakulu kulibe kampombwa…Chipolopolo iyee……
Well its too early to talk about Nigeria missing, they will surely come.!
Some of you are blaming Nigeria for not diversifying its economy, has Zambia done so?
Please don’t be carried away, those are mind games.
watch out Zambians, any competition involving world turnament is a serious issue to Nigeria. I would advice u guys to be careful on october 9…