After a disastrous ouster from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland, Monday night, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria and their handlers have caused the nation a monumental international embarrassment.
Following the failure of the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, refusal to pay their bonus, the nation’s U-20 football team refused to quit their hotel in Poland, Tuesday. And despite pleas by officials of the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, to make the team change their mind, they stuck to their guns, insisting they would not yield an inch until the NFF pays them every dollar of their allowances.
The Flying Eagles whose below par performance in the competition has provoked a deluge of criticisms from Nigerian football fans, having lost 1-2 to Senegal in the Round of 16, staged the protest despite assurances that they will be paid 5000 dollars each for qualifying for the knock-out stage and accrued training allowance.
The confusion forced FIFA to make alternative accommodation arrangement for the team that ought to have taken the place of the Flying Eagles had they vacated the facility.
This is the fourth time Nigeria’s national teams will embarrass the country under the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF board after international championships which always seems reluctant to fulfill their obligations to players.
For instance, the senior female soccer team, the Super Falcons refused to return from South Africa after winning the Women’s Nations Cup. The Falcons also staged a similar protest in Cameroon sequel to NFF’s refusal to pay their allowances.
The Golden Eaglets also refused to vacate their Bolton White Hotel in Abuja for several days until the NFF paid their bonus and allowances.
