Nigeria: Brazil 2014 Made Eagles Multi-Millionaires
21 July 2014 , By Steve Oma-Ofozor, Source: Independent
Lagos
In the 1970s and particularly 1980s when football consciousness got to the crescendo in Nigeria and Africa in general, not much of the economic aspect of the game in monetary terms was known to the Nigerian players who were 95 per cent home-based as the game was basically at the amateur level.

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However, the story today is a different ball game as any family that has a footballer that is able to be in the national team of the country is already made financially, if the monetary wealth the Eagles players have amassed just within about three weeks of their stay in Brazil in the on-going 2014 World Cup is anything to go by.

According to reports, the Eagles on their untimely return from Brazil, having been sent out of the tournament by France via 0-2 defeat, got $130,000 each, about N21million.

The reports expatiates that it was the Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, and a few other players who received $130,000 (N21million) each as appearance fee for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Quoting a source, the reports say, "It was not a flat rate, but some of the players like Enyeama, who were involved in both the qualifiers as well as the World Cup in Brazil got as much as $130,000."

The money is outside the match bonus and daily allowances they were paid. Team officials were also reportedly not left out as some of them received $25,000.

But, according to the source, there were disagreements over the money, particularly as regards whether those who qualified the team for Brazil 2014 should also get part of the appearance fee.

"There was a big issue among the senior players whether those who were part of the qualifiers should also get something. At the end of the day, Joseph Yobo prevailed that they also have to be included.

"So, even some players like John Utaka and Raheem Lawal, who played just a couple of qualifiers, will also get something," the source confirmed.

Invariably, Coach Stephen Keshi, who was the leader of pioneer foreign sojourners among the Nigeria local players, pocketed a total of $300,000 (N48 million) for leading Nigeria to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup, reports further stated.

"Big Boss' Keshi, double the win bonus of the players and on that account, he received a total of $260,000 as appearance fee for the World Cup after the team agreed to pay each player $10,000 per game, covering both the qualifiers and the World Cup itself."

A total of 13 matches were said to have been considered and it was on that basis that the likes of Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Godfrey Oboabona each netted $130,000 as appearance fee.

In this regard, the least a player received was $10,000 (N1. 6 million) for playing a qualifier.

Besides, Keshi's World Cup jackpot was also said to include an additional $40,000 (N6 million) being match bonus for the win over Bosnia, the draw with Iran and the loss to Argentina.

The assistant coach to Keshi, Daniel Amokachi, reports also revealed, earned a staggering $195,000 as appearance fee a 50 per cent more than the players.

It was no hidden fact that the Federal Government build up to the encounter against France had shipped $3.6 million through the sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, on a Presidential jet on the eve of the round of 16 match to appease the players for better performance.

In similar manner, it was also revealed, business mogul, Mike Adenuga, through same Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Danagogo, ahead of the Nigeria/France tie, shipped $250,000 (N40. 5 million) to the Super Eagles in Brazil to encourage them to beat France, promising to do more if they win and advance to the quarter-final stage.

Reports say Danagogo, on presenting the money to the team, quoted Adenuga as saying, "This is a token and if the team goes ahead and shock the world, I will join Mr. President to shock the team."

Little wonder the heated arguments and counter arguments about how the cash was to be shared. The entire squad was said to have stayed up till 2.am. local time and eight hours later they were on their way to the stadium for the match they eventually lost 2-0 to crash out of Brazil 2014.

The players seemingly were fagged out against France, looking so heavy and dull given the overnight battle to get their largesse.

Yes, the fight was worth it, whether their performance was good or bad. Otherwise, must the monkey always be working and bamboo dey chop? It is a national cake and the World Cup gave the players the opportunity to make more millions in addition to what they may have made in their various clubs. Super Eagles is it!

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